Unsponsored Lo & Sons Review of the O.G. Overnight bag

With my Away Bigger Carry-On (Unsponsored reviewed here)

First off I just want to thank readers notsaf and Sarah who commented on my Cuyana Le Sud Travel bag post suggesting trying the Lo & Sons travel bags.  I read that and lucky for me Lo & Sons had both their OG overnight bag and their OMG medium overnight bag for sale at 30% off (and actually there are still some colors on sale now) so I got both to see which one I might like better.

The OG is the bigger bag on the left and the OMG is the smaller bag in green on the right.  I spent a lot of time waffling between the two because I liked the blue color better but the size of the OMG better.  I found the OG to be quite gargantuan. 

And a poll on Instagram had the OMG winning.  But in the end I went with the OG because I just had too much stuff for my 10 day trip to Europe.  I had to go with the bigger bag and I'm glad I did!  This bag can fit a ton of stuff and I definitely needed to.

The OG bag really was the perfect carry-on bag to take on a train tour of Europe!  I loved that it had a panel to slip over the handlebar of my roller bag.  This OG bag never once fell off the top of my luggage, which is not something I can say about the Cuyana Le Sud Travel bag.  Also the OG bag is super lightweight and inside there are a ton of pockets for everything you need.  The laptop section is nicely padded and there's also an outside zippered pocket that has another zippered compartment and an organizational section for pens and such.  They really thought of everything with this bag.  Oh and it also comes with a large shoulder strap but I never used it (and can't imagine trying to carry this humongous bag with a long shoulder strap).  For the most part I carried it atop my roller luggage or by the shorter straps that still were able to go over my shoulder.

I would say the only cons with this bag are:

- When the bag is packed to the brim, it's hard to pull the laptop out of the bag.  I think it's due to the domed shape of the bag.  Also when it's packed to the max, the outside organizational pocket is pretty useless (its impossible to get things in or out).

- It's a tad hard to put the bag under the seat in front of you on the airplane with it standing upright since the bag is so tall (and this is especially true when it's packed to the max).  Lucky for me I was traveling with my husband so I would lay the bag down and he didn't mind if it went into his foot-space a bit.  

But I would say that this OG bag is above and beyond better than the Cuyana one for practical traveling.  I look forward to taking many a trip with this bag.  In the meantime I think I'll try using it as a gym bag since my current one can never seem to hold everything I need.

My Closet Sale is now up!

Find my newly opened Closet Sale here.

If you've been following along my blog, you know I'm not the best with my money.  Actually that's putting it politely.  I'm honestly a frivolous spender who ends up with too many things.  But I like to think I spend money on "good" things in that even after it no longer sparks joy for me, the thing can still spark joy in others.  And I rarely ever throw my things away (and I'm working towards zero-waste in general, but that's another story).

via ironicminimalist

Anyway I've been an eBay seller since 2005 (it all started with a Tiffany's necklace from an ex, lol).  And if it doesn't sell on eBay, I usually sell it at a Crossroads Trading store.  And then my final resort is Goodwill (though nowadays it's few and far between since I've already gotten rid of most of the extra stuff when we moved into the Airstream).  Well I've decided to add this closet sale since the majority of you said yes to it on my survey.  So as a thank you to all the readers who follow me here, I've decided to give y'all first dibs and better prices than what I list it for on eBay.  

So the deets: U.S. sales only at the moment and all shipping is free!  Also this is my first time using this platform to sell so please bear with me if there are any kinks to the process (but I won't know until I try!).  I prefer not to take returns but of course will accept them on a case by case basis.

Hopefully my things can continue to spark joy in others, while I go in search for the next thing that sparks joy in me.

P.S. I apologize for the heavy usage of Kondo-isms

Elizabeth Suzann Review of the Signature Generation 4 Clyde Work Pants in cotton canvas

Funnily enough, I had a dream last night where someone stole my Elizabeth Suzann credit (from my return of the Clyde Jacket).  Well it was more like a nightmare, lol.  Anyway I wonder if my subconscious was telling me to finally do a review of these Clyde work pants, which I've had my eye on since January of 2017 (when it was still made out of cotton twill instead of these current cotton canvas).  

These pants were the first thing I ordered after the official end of my shopping ban.  Were they all that I dreamed they would be?  Yes and no.  

{Wearing: Grana crop cashmere sweater (similar here), Elizabeth Suzann Clyde work pants, Sevilla Smith Terilyn booties}

But first a note on sizing.  Having tried out the linen Tilda pants in a medium and following the ES stories on Instagram I knew I probably should go with the smaller of my two sizes (usually I'm between a 4 and 6 on the bottom).  So I got this in 4 short (I'm 5'4" but have the legs of a person who's 5'1").  And I have to say it fit perfectly in how I wanted it to look, which was more fitted than baggy.  But I do have to shimmy these pants over my hips/butt area because it's really tight (I have to stretch the elastic to the max).  But once they get over the hips, they fit perfectly in the waist and hips.  The elastic also loosens a bit over time so it's not as difficult for me to get them on now than when I first got them.  And to take them off I just hook my thumbs over the wrap-around crescent-shaped pockets and pull down (super easy!).  I didn't take my measurements because I'm a lazy blogger but I absolutely recommend measuring yourself and using the ES detailed measurements to find your right size.  

{Wearing: Grana striped pima tee (similar here), Everlane wool-cashmere rib cardigan, Elizabeth Suzann Clyde work pants, Everlane modern loafer mules, Saint Laurent Universite bag}

So onto the pros and cons.  First the pros:

- I love the look of them because they're neither fitted nor baggy.  Kind of like my favorite Grana silk ankle pants but better. 

-The crescent pockets are awesome.  Since my pants are more on the fitted side, they don't fit as much stuff, but because they go from front to back, it's pretty easy to fit even the bulkiest of items.

- I love the front seam because I think they visually help to elongate my short legs.

- I love that they sit right at my natural waist and so are a bit more high-waisted than my usual jeans (and so I can wear all my cropped sweaters with this without showing the midriff area).

And the cons:

- I'm actually not a huge fan of the stiff cotton canvas.  It does soften over time but it's quite thick and rough, and since I got it on the fitted side, sometimes the seam that runs along the front of the legs will rub against my knee (especially when sitting down for long periods of time) and irritate the skin in that area.

- Also this cotton canvas picks up dog hair like a mofo.  I am constantly lint rolling to remove it.

- Also now that the elastic is a bit more stretched out, I find that sometimes walking in it will start bringing the waistband lower because my knees are pulling it down (essentially making these pants sag a little like harem pants).

So yes, these weren't exactly all that I dreamed they would be, but I still really like them and wear them often.  Oh and don't wear them when you know you're going to eat a lot since the elastic will only stretch so much and the canvas only stretches a bit too (so wear instead some stretchy denim).  That was the only time I regretted wearing these pants.

But since these weren't my 'unicorn' pants, I've been looking at the Clyde work pants in linen.  Especially since San Jose in the summer is going to be HOT and I probably won't be able to comfortably wear the thick cotton canvas version of these pants.  I already ordered them with my ES credit (along with a silk Georgia tee so then I can do a Everlane vs. Grana vs. Cuyana vs. Elizabeth Suzann silk review post).  So I'll do a comparison of the Clyde work pants in canvas vs linen and see which one I like better.  I might just end up having a winter version of these pants (the canvas ones) and a summer version (the linen ones).

Anyway if y'all have any questions about these pants shoot me a comment below.  

Update: Here is my review of these Elizabeth Suzann Clyde pants in linen.

Review of the StyleBook App and my Winter 10x10 Challenge recap

*This review is not sponsored 

When I was doing my Lowest Cost Per Wear Everlane post couple months ago I really tried to calculate my cost per wear and found that it was pretty impossible.  So I went in search for an app that would help me do that, and that's when I found the StyleBook app.  I never heard of it before so I did a little research and it seemed to be the number one app for keeping track of your clothes.  I promptly spent the $3.99 to download and then left it untouched on my phone for over a month.  But with a trip to Europe that coincided with the Winter 10x10 challenge, I knew it was the perfect time to give the app a shot.  And well long story short, I love the app and I find it super useful and easy to use.

To get my closet uploaded into the app (which by the way I'm no where near done), for most of my clothes I did a flat lay shot on some white poster board to upload the clothes into my digital closet on the app.  It's super easy and does a fairly good job of picking up the outline of the clothes.  Here are some tips for using the photo function of the app:

- When laying out shoes, try to keep some distance between the left and right pair since if they're too close together, the app has a hard time erasing the white space between the shoes.  You can go in a manually erase the white parts that the program fails to automatically erase but it's a bit of a pain.

- This also applies for purse straps.  Try to lay it out so that there's a lot of white space that the app can automatically erase (ie don't have it criss crossed in complicated ways).  

- If your item has white in it, you have to use a towel or sheet that is of a contrasting color

-This function is hard for items with patterns and lots of different colors since the app then can't tell whats the the clothing and whats the background.  If you have a closet full of patterns, this app might not be the best for you

- When erasing the background manually, it's better to over-erase a little than to under-erase since when you under-erase, you can see the background with the clothing and it looks weird later.

You can also add clothing by finding it in their "shop".  I found Everlane items there, which was great.  But even if you find it on their shop, you still have to erase the background yourself (they basically provide you with the stock photography).  It would be the same as if you went to the brand's website and copied the picture, pasted it into the app, and erased the background (which is also another function this app can do). So if you find some time on your hands (say while commuting on a bus or train), you can add items to your closet this way.

Once you add the picture of the item to your closet, you can add details like the color, fabric, size, season, brand and price.  I usually just add color, brand and price so that I can upload and add an item to the closet in about 2-3 minutes.  You can also edit this later.

Once you have your clothes uploaded, you can start adding them to Looks and to your calendar.  I tend to make the Looks first and then add the look to the calendar so that when you take a quick look at the calendar you can see the whole outfit.  Otherwise the calendar will only show one piece of clothing (the first one added for that date).  

I also really love the packing feature of this app.  You can either add the clothes to the packing list or even better, add Looks to your trip and the app will automatically add what you need to pack to your list.  So if you want, you can plan your looks first and then pack.  These are all the items on my 10x10 plus accessories:

And now my favorite of all: the breakdown of the numbers!

So I'm nowhere near entering all my clothes but the 24 on there is probably the most worn items of this season.  I'm pretty much adding clothes as I go.  And the feature that I bought this app for:

Now this app isn't perfect (it can be cumbersome to add and organize your closet and looks), but it definitely does what it needs to.  And this app isn't for everyone since it requires tracking your clothes everyday if you really want to utilize it to its potential.  But man, I love it.  I hope to continue doing this so I can really refine my wardrobe and know exactly which pieces I'm wearing and which I've forgotten about.  Also it's been a bit of an eye opener on how much I spend on clothes (um only 24 items and I'm already at over $4k?!  I'm a little scared to see what the sum of my closet will turn out to be).

I did have a bit of a hurdle trying to figure out what to put down as the cost for items that are really old and I've already worn the heck out of.  For example the tall leather boots that I've had for 5+ years should already have a low cost per wear.  But I decided what really matters is how much I do use them from this point on.  So I gave it a fairly high start cost (as if I bought them at a thrift store), but this is a personal preference.

Now onto the Winter 10x10.  If you want to see it, head over here and you can see all 10 outfits along with the Style Book app layout for them.  I wasn't initially going to the 10x10 but when it coincided perfectly with my trip to London, Paris, and Amsterdam I thought I might as well.  Especially since it would help me to keep my luggage items to a minimum, and it would ensure that I would wear everything I packed.  And I'm so glad to have done it since there were only 2 items I packed that I never used (of course it was the last minute items I threw in, just in case).  Also the 10x10 was a good excuse to make an effort to take pictures during my trip.  

And my one takeaway from this particular challenge was it's totally okay to repeat the same outfit.  Accessories like the scarf and bag will change the look enough that it won't look exactly the same (besides no one but yourself notices outfit repeating).

Anyway anyone else use the StyleBook app and have any useful suggestions?  Also did you participate in the Winter 10x10 challenge, and if so what were some of your take-aways?

Everlane Review The Wool-Cashmere Rib V-Neck Cardigan

Hi y'all!  Taking some time during our short European tour (London->Paris->Amsterdam) to talk about this cardigan, which I purchased in 2017 and have yet to review!  When this wool-cashmere rib v-neck cardigan first landed on the Everlane site, it sold out pretty quick.  So I went ahead and tried their wool-cashmere waffle square crew (reviewed here).  When the cardigan got restocked, I added it to my cart asap, and I see that currently this olive cardigan is sold out in the size I got.  But before you get bummed out, let me tell you that I thought this cardigan was just meh.

What do you think?

{Wearing: Everlane Wool-Cashmere Rib V-neck cardigan, Grana pima tee (similar here), Elizabeth Suzann Clyde Pants, Everlane Modern Loafer Mules, Saint Laurent Monogramme Universite bag}

This was my best effort to style this cardigan.  And let me tell you this sweater is thick.  And when I was wearing it, I got that linebacker feel (as in I felt like a padded-up football player).  I think it was due to the sloping shoulders and the overall wideness of the sweater.  I'm wearing a size small here and it fit true to size.  I did like the cropped look but I just couldn't get over the bulkiness of it all so I sent it back.

I also didn't like the look of it when I buttoned it up.

I know a lot of people think Everlane is feeling more like fast fashion lately, especially when they churn out ill-fitting and unflattering pieces like this.  And I would agree that recently Everlane has been pretty unimpressive.  But like an addict, I just can't quit it.  I'm like one of B.F. Skinner's rats that keep pushing the lever because of the variable interval reward (you can read about it here).  Basically because I find Everlane gold every once in awhile, it's enough to keep me trying.  But while I wait for my next gotta-try it Everlane piece, I'll be reviewing a bunch of other brands I've been interested in (and you guys have also expressed interest in from the survey).  

In the mean time you can find my newly updated post of all my Everlane reviews here.

Elizabeth Suzann Review Signature Generation 4 Clyde Jacket

Hallelujah the shopping ban that wasn't really a shopping ban is over!  Which means I can buy and try brand new things like this Elizabeth Suzann Clyde Jacket in cotton canvas.  Since I'm new to ES cotton products (I've only ever tried their linen before here and here), I don't know what the cotton twill was like.  But this cotton canvas is super heavy duty and sturdier than most cotton canvas bags I own.

First a note on sizing, I ordered the XS since I didn't want this jacket to be oversized.  I usually wear a size 4 on top and found that this jacket fit well with just a tee on.  If I tried layering it over a sweater though, there was some tightness around the shoulders.  I didn't actually measure myself before ordering so I chanced it a bit.  All in all I was fine with the size.

{Wearing: Elizabeth Suzann Clyde Jacket, Frame Le Skinny De Jeanne Crop (similar here), Everlane the cotton crew, Everlane Day Heels, Celine Seau Sangle bag (similar here)}

So what do you think?

TBH I was a little meh about it.  I paired it with skinny jeans to balance out the volume on top.    I think the length of the jacket is perfect, cutting right below the butt.  And I liked the sleeve length and pockets as well.  

I guess my problem with the jacket, and it's completely personal, is that it looks and feels like a Japanese Happi coat (festival coat) to me.  See what I mean?

It's hard to pay over $200 for a Japanese style coat that I can get on eBay for $20.  Also I guess the volume and excess material on top is just not for me.  It would get in the way if I bend over to do things at the Airstream garage.  And since I was going to treat this as an everyday work coat, that doesn't really function well for me.

Anyway in the end I returned the jacket and the Elizabeth Suzann customer service is excellent.  They sent the exchange gift card even before I sent back the jacket, which requires a level of trust of the customer.  Anyway I now have some ES credit burning a hole in my pocket.  Hmm what to get next? 

How I keep my fitness motivation going

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I am not a fitness fanatic by an means though I used to be.  I would get into yearly cycles where I would work out like crazy (6 times/week with 3-4 of those being hard workouts) and then during my off-years I would do zero exercising.  When I was younger I ran a lot (highschool cross-country and track) and then after college I really got into spinning with my running. I dabbled in yoga then too.  But as I got older it was hard to keep running with my bad knees and with last year's skiing accident, I decided to call it quits on running (plus I was having a harder and harder time enjoying running).  So now I do yoga, swimming, and elliptical (my YES regimen, lol) after 2 years of not working out at all.

And here's the thing about consistent exercise, at a certain age you just gotta do it.  It's like flossing.  You have to build a habit of doing it (not to the point where you feel crazy if you don't exercise a day or two but to the point where you know you have to go if you haven't gone in a week or two).  So here are my tips on getting into an exercise habit:

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1) Keep track of your workouts

This might be a no-brainer to some but this is key for me.  I have to know when was the last time I exercised and I like knowing my "progress".  So this is basically how I keep track:

I just put the day and in the parenthesis I put the type of workout (yoga, swimming, or elliptical).  I don't put any details like how long or how hard I worked out because I wanted to keep such judgements out of my records.  It was enough that I went.  And every month I'll try to see if I can best my record of number of days of exercise, but I don't get down on myself if it's less than the month before.  I keep track of this in my Google Keep app so it's always handy.

2) Have a set variety of workouts and always include an "ease-back-into-it" workout

Experts say your body gets easily acclimated to just one type of workout so the best workout regimen includes a variety of exercises.  Plus mixing it up keeps you from getting bored.  I also always include an easy enjoyable workout as part of my regimen so that it's easier for me to get back into the swing of things.  My "ease-back-into-it" workout are my elliptical workouts where I let myself read a magazine and listen to music while I workout. I never let myself read magazines while sitting around so in some ways the elliptical workout is my treat time to buy and read mags.

3) Also have a "I paid for this so I have to go" workout

For me that is yoga.  I found a studio really close to work (a 10 min or less drive away) and even though it's not the cheapest, I find that it's worth it 100%.  Some days I don't feel like working out but I signed up for the class and paid for it, so I'm going to show up.  And most of the time once I'm done with the yoga class I feel satisfied and glad I went.

4) Don't beat yourself up if your life gets in the way of your exercise habit

There are some months where I had zero workouts all month (October, when we were on our Airstream road trip).  I don't beat myself up about it.  It is what it is, and I just go back to working out as soon as my schedule permits.  In the end it's not really about how many workouts you've done but the fact that you have a habit of going back to it and you do some sort of exercise for years.  Your body is the only one you have so make sure you take the time and money to invest in it.  

P.S. I loved reading Ashley's post about her effort to squeeze her exercise time done in the mornings and what it takes to make it happen.  Read about it to get some inspiration if you're a tired full-time working adult.

And the Everlane giftcard giveaway winner...

is Madeline!  You've been emailed your $50 gift card.  And thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway (and also thank again to everyone who filled out my survey!).  

Everlane Review Wool-Cashmere Waffle Square Crew Sweater and Mid-Rise Skinny Ankle Jean

Hello and welcome to the first Everlane review of 2018!  I rarely combine multiple items in a review but I think I'll save you and I a little time but starting to do combos when necessary (especially for Everlane items because TBH I'm ready to start reviewing other ethical brands).

So first off, this foldover crossbody, also from Everlane, is new to me but I have purchased and reviewed this purse in the past (review here).  But I returned it since the natural leather color, though gorgeous, was a bit to fragile for my liking.  So when I saw Everlane release it in this new beautiful burgundy/oxblood color, I knew this was the purse I was waiting for!

{Wearing: Everlane wool cashmere waffle square crew, Everlane mid-rise skinny jean, Everlane modern points, Everlane foldover cross body}

Ok now onto the new stuff.  So first up is Everlane's wool-cashmere waffle square crew, which I got in XS (this is a size smaller than my usual Everlane size).  I decided to go with the smaller size since the sweater looked quite bulky on the model on the website.  And even with the XS sizing, the sweater felt big and puffy on me (and frankly felt unflattering).  Also something about the collar made me think of a clown collar.  But on Instagram a lot of you actually liked the look of the sweater:

This was one of the few times I think my opinion deviated from you insta peeps.  And I was torn about keeping it or sending it back, but in the end I didn't love it so back it went (I try my best to follow my rule of don't love it, don't keep it).  Also the sweater wasn't as comfortable as my favorite Everlane wool-cashmere sweater from last year (the one that made it on my Lowest Cost Per Wear Everlane post).  The neck was a bit itchy on this new one and I wonder if it's because they added nylon to the fibers to the trimmings (I'm assuming neckline, hem and sleeves) this year.  Either way I'll be sticking with last year's wool cashmere sweater since it's still got plenty of life left!

I also decided to try out Everlane's mid-rise skinny ankle jeans even though I've sworn off buying any more skinny jeans for the time being.  But I guess I drank too much of the Everlane kool-aid and felt like I needed to at least give them a shot.  Well I gave them a shot and promptly returned them (yep, just reaffirming my need to stop buying skinny jeans).  I got them in my regular size (28) and found they fit TTS.  The ankle length was perfect for my 5'4" frame.  If you're in the market for a pair of skinny jeans, these Everlane ones are not a bad place to start. 

Oh and I also found that at least initially these black jeans are a lot stiffer than their modern boyfriend jeans in mid-blue (which I reviewed here).   It's probably the copious amounts of dye needed to get this jet black color that stiffens the denim.  Anyway I think I'll stick with my decidedly un-skinny Frame denim and Mott & Bow pair that I'm constantly rotating (seriously I'm only rotating between 3 pairs of pants currently and am debating on selling all my other pairs since I'm not wearing them).

Anyway as usual you can find all my unsponsored Everlane reviews here and if you're a first time Everlane buyer I would greatly appreciate your support by purchasing through my referral link here!

P.S. Speaking of the Everlane kool-aid, there's one blogger who's definitely not drinking it anymore.  Grechen certainly gave me some food for thought on her post here!

Happy MLK, Jr. Day!

For those of you in the U.S. with the day off, Happy MLK, Jr. Day.  To be honest I never really took the time to celebrate this day before, and in the past just treated it as a lucky day off.  But at a time when many people in the U.S. are made to feel like second-class citizens (like the whole population of Puerto Rico) and African Americans are still discriminated and shot at by our own police, I feel it especially important to remember of all that MLK, Jr. stood for and how he got his social progress. 

So in celebration of the day and the man, may I suggest watching David Letterman's Netflix Special, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, featuring a great interview with Barack Obama.  Also learn a little bit more about MLK, Jr. himself here.

Cuyana Review: Le Sud Leather Travel Bag {Updated August 2021}

*This is not a sponsored review and I paid for this myself

I've had this Cuyana Le Sud Leather Travel bag for some time now but I really wanted to put it through its paces before giving a review here.  But having traveled with it to Tahoe, LA and Hawaii I feel like I can give a fair review now.

First off this design comes in two sizes.  This larger travel bag size and a smaller Le Sud Leather Satchel size.  This larger one goes for $375 while the smaller one retails for $295.  Just make sure if you order this, you order the right one since in stand alone pictures they look identical.

So what I love about this travel bag:

- There are a ton of pockets inside the bag (which is lined with black cotton canvas).  There's a slot for your laptop and then there's two big zippered pockets.  On the outside there's a pocket that closes with a magnet which I slide my phone into for easy access.

- This bag measures 13 in. x 18 in. x 7.5-9in (9 at top, 7.5 at base) so it's a large bag and it can fit a lot!  When coming back from Hawaii I had to let out the top (by unbuckling the side straps) and even though it didn't look as chic, it did the job of holding all my extra stuff

- The leather isn't too heavy

- The short straps were long enough to put over my shoulder (though the long strap was pretty useless when the bag was heavy)

What I didn't like about the bag:

- For the price point and what Cuyana stands for, this bag did not feel luxe.  The pebble leather is probably very durable for traveling but the texture was rubbery and it wrinkled like in the picture above. TBH it looked like cheaply made-in-China leather.

- The way it slouched over my suitcase was not cute.  I wish it came with horizontal straps on the other side so I could slide it over the handles of my suitcase.  Then I didn't have to use the straps to hold it into place.  Also if the bag was even slightly off centered, the bag would fall off the top and then start dragging on the floor while still hooked onto the handles.  For $375 I would hope for more on my travel bag.

- The zippers were rough and jaggedy so I had to be careful when taking things in and out of the bag and pockets.

So the big question, would I buy this again?  Nope.  For the price I would want a better travel bag.  Something chic, durable, but also more functional and luxe feeling.  Ah well, I'll be using it until I find something better but for now it will do.

To be honest, I'm actually over Cuyana.  I know they have a good message and are supposed to feel luxurious but their products haven't really stood up to scrutiny these days (like their linen top I reviewed this past summer).  Everlane's leather goods feel more luxe and they're at a lower price point.

Anyone have any suggestions for travel bags that they swear by?

{August 2021 update: I sold this bag awhile ago and I just wanted to let you know the best travel bag I’ve found so far is Everlane’s Renew Transit Weekender. It’s lightweight, very durable, and can be easily organized. I love it! I’ve also come to realise that all-leather bags aren’t great for traveling—they’re just too heavy.}

Thank You Giveaway {now closed}

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I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who took my little survey.  I got way more responses than I expected (so it's going to take me awhile to organize all the data).  But hopefully I can start implementing some changes and write more posts that you guys are interested in.  Anyway as a thank you, I wanted to do a short giveaway for a $50 Everlane (digital) gift card.  About 90% of you guys said that you enjoy reading my Everlane reviews here so I figured it would be a useful prize to win.  To enter just fill out the form below.

Giveaway will end on 1/16 and winner announced 1/17.  And no you don't have to have done the survey to enter, but it's not too late to add your own thoughts about the blog here.

Unsponsored PACT Organic Cotton Underwear Review {Updated July 2020}

lol you'll never see me up here in my undies so here's the picture of the model

*This is an unsponsored review and I purchased these items myself

I apologize if this is TMI, but I've been wearing the same undies from Victoria Secret since my college days (um over a decade now).  Some of them have holes in them and some have period stains (too much?), so I finally decided I needed to be an adult and replace them.  And PACT apparel, with their GOTS and Fair Trade certifications and use of organic cotton, has been on my radar for some time.  When their Black Friday Sale came around I jumped at the chance of getting their 2-pack undies for $10 (normally $23).  I tried out their classic bikini and their lace waist brief.  The punchline of this review: I loved them both and can't wait to slowly convert my whole underwear drawer to PACT!

I purchased all my underwear in medium since that is the size I wore for my Victoria's Secret undies (I'm usually between a size 4-6 in pants, currently a 6 lol).  But I found the medium for PACT is larger than for VS, so these undies have a bit of a granny panty look on me.  I don't really care since it's underwear, but I think my true size is a small (this is especially true of the lace waist brief which I found was bigger than the regular briefs).

The underwear itself is made of very soft and smooth cotton.  The elastic bands are comfortable and have a good amount of stretch to them.  The lace waisted briefs are also really comfortable and well made.  I'm not sure what else to say but these are good practical underwear and feel of a much better quality than my VS ones.  But the true test is of course how they wear over time.  I'll periodically update this post and let you know!

Since the retail price on these PACT undies are quite a bit more than VS ones (because the VS ones are produced via slave labor), I recommend waiting for their sales (and a friend informed me that they sometimes can be found on sale at Whole Foods Market).  Or if you're a first time buyer, here's a referral link for 20% off your first purchase (and thanks for supporting my dreams of converting my underwear drawer to PACT)!

P.S. I also got an offer for free socks from PACT with purchase (I just had to fill an online form with my purchase number), and true to their word I got them in the mail about 2 weeks later.  Score!

{March 2019 Update: So I would be remiss if I didn’t update this review to let you know that it seems like the quality has gone down a bit for some of their undies. I no longer buy the classic bikinis because it doesn’t seem to last very well. The cotton gets stretched out and doesn’t feel as substantial as the lace waist briefs. I have only been purchasing the lace waist briefs recently}

{July 2020 Update: I’ve been using exclusively PACT underwear now for over 2.5 years and I still love them. As I noted above, I stopped buying the classic bikini so I can’t speak to their quality. But I’ve noticed the some batches of the lace waist briefs also had a momentary decline in quality (sometime in mid to late 2019). Yet the newest batch that I got are great.}

Zero Waste Review: Marley's Monsters Washable Sponge and Organic Bamboo Facial Rounds Review

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First of all thank you to everyone who's taken my little survey so far.  I've been reading them through as I get them and it's given me a lot to think about.  I'm super excited to see how this space will change with all the feedback!  Thank you thank you thank you!

Anyway onto the review:

*This review is not sponsored and I purchased all items myself

Welcome to my first review of the year!  Since one of my resolutions is to make my life more zero waste, here's my first zero-waste promoting review: reusable sponges and facial rounds from Marley's Monsters!  I first heard of this brand from Andrea and I knew I wanted to try these ethical items made in Oregon.  Well I've been using both items for three months now and I love them!

I purchased the organic bamboo facial rounds and chose them over the cotton ones because not only does bamboo have natural antimicrobial properties but bamboo is also a more sustainable resource than cotton.  And seriously I wished I had switched over to these much sooner when I think of all the cotton (and plastic wrappings) I've disposed of in the past.  These bamboo rounds are better than disposable cotton pads since they don't soak up as much toner/makeup remover as cotton balls and thus more of the moisture transfers to your face.  Just make sure you wash them all before using (even though it says pre-washed it's better to wash it again yourself) and use a laundry mesh bag so you don't lose any rounds!  Seriously if you're using cotton pads morning and night, please do yourself (and the environemnt) the favor and switch over to these!

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As for these washable sponges, I love them for the most part.  I love that these are reusable so I'm not constantly throwing away plastic sponges, and the graphics are cute.  The scrub side does a pretty good job at scrubbing away dried food bits and probably best of all, these sponges never get that gross moldy/bacterial smell even after weeks of use (due to the mildew resistant center).  Oh and I used to switch out my sponge whenever it started getting really gross since I disliked throwing them away frequently.  But now I can just throw them in the wash so I switch out my sponges weekly.  My only gripe with these sponges is that the middle mildew resistant cloth gets bunched up in the wash and then come out lumpy.  So they're never as good as new after washing.  Also these sponges don't hold soapy water as well as their disposable counterpart.  But overall these are minor details and my three sponges are all going strong after 3 months of use.  I'll let you know when they finally go ka-put.

Anyway I'm quite happy with both of my purchases and if zero waste is this easy, why would I live life any other way (lol, but I know it's not always this easy.  Sometimes zero waste comes at the cost of convenience.  But is ruining our environment worth having the minor conveniences?  Nope. )  Anyway a zero waste lifestyle might take an initial investment but the act of reusing will cut costs in the long run, and I can't wait to use these Marley Monster items to peices!

P.S. I just watched Captain Fantastic (free on amazon prime) and talk about some zero waste inspo!

P.P.S I just got a good question from Sandy about whether or not makeup washes clean from the facial rounds.  TBH I usually use it for toner but for the occasional times I used it to remove eye makeup it washed back to white.  To remove a full face of makeup I usually use these.

I get by with a little help from my friends...

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Hi guys!  So in order to keep this blog relevant and useful for you guys I was wondering if you could take a quick poll below (ie also your chance to let me know what to buy and try for reviews in the future).  Thank you for all those who come here to read my reviews and all my other random ramblings.

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Possibly my last GIFs for awhile depending on how this survey goes!

My Resolutions for 2018

First of all 

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So even though I usually fail my resolutions and rarely succeed 100%, I like to make resolutions every year as a way of continuing to improve myself (or to at least try).  Last year I only shared my shopping/clothes related resolution with you guys since this is a style/clothing focused blog.  But I've come to realize that I might as well share all my resolutions with you guys in order to try to keep myself accountable and in case there are others trying to make similar changes in their life (like exercise and/or diet).  So here are all my resolutions for 2018:

1) Continue my YES workout regimen

So this was something I started in 2017 and want to continue doing in 2018.  YES stands for Yoga, Elliptical and Swimming.  Ever since my skiing accident in late January last year, I've had to do low impact workouts because frankly my knees just can't take it.  I find a combo of these 3 types of workouts keep me fit but also keeps my head clear too, especially in times of stress.  I try to workout 3-4 times a week and do at least one of each per week (though to be honest, when busy season rolls around it becomes more like an EYE workout regimen, lol).

2) Stop binge drinking

Ok so I'm not an alcoholic here (or at least I don't think I am and this resolution is going to prove/disprove that).  But I got a pretty bad concussion while out drinking with my sister in law in November, and was informed by my doctor that binge drinking is drinking more than 3 alcoholic drinks every 2 hours and drinking more than 7 per week (for women).  I'm definitely a heavy social drinker and I've come to realize that even though I don't drink as much as I used to, I still qualify as a binge drinker.  So this year I'm making an effort to give my liver a break.

3) Shop ethically as much as possible

That means trying to make do with what I already have, borrow if I don't have it, or buy it second-hand. I'll still probably be doing Everlane reviews (since that's what I love), but I will also explore other brands/makers who produce clothing and accessories ethically/transparently/consciously.  This also means a ban on fast fashion.  But who needs fast fashion when there are so many exciting indie designers making things responsibly (ahem Elizabeth Suzann and Only Child).

4) Consume consciously/ Begin my zero waste makeover

So I've started going down the zero waste path by cutting my plastic bag usage and buying these washable sponges and bamboo facial rounds (review coming soon).  But I definitely need to do more when it comes to this department.  I'm also planting a garden (and compost) to reduce my reliance on bagged greens, which I eat daily for breakfast.  For 2018 I'm going to look for other ways to reduce my waste and dependency on plastics, and I'll blog about my adventures/discoveries along the way.  Also if you're a zero waste practitioner, I would love to hear your tips and most useful zero waste advice!

Alright resolutions set!  What are some of your resolutions for the new year?

My 2017 Resolutions Recap

Failure.  That is the theme for my 2017 shopping ban resolution.  Complete and utter failure.  It was supposed to be nothing new except for items that I could get on credit in order to continue my reviews.  But it was impossible to continue to get new items from Everlane and Grana, and not to want to buy other things.  So I let myself slide to buy anything secondhand and justified it as "I'm still shopping ethically" though I went a little nuts and purchased several used bags from Fashionphile (though I also sold several bags to make it an equal 'trade').  And even though it's still shopping ethically, I lost sight of the fact that it was a shopping ban period.  And then in October, I went and shopped at COS (a big sister store to H&M) and that broke all the rules.  I was on track at being able to at least say in this post, "I didn't shop any fast fashion this year" but not anymore.

So what can I say?  Well at least I never purchased anything from Zara, Madewell, J.Crew, H&M, Uniqlo and Nordstrom Rack this year.  In the past they have been my go-to stores, and even when I started this blog reviewing Everlane, I still shopped at these fast-fashion purveyors.  So at least I can say that.  I may have failed to be anti-consumerist and minimalist, but I guess for the most part (except for COS) it was an ethical second-hand only shopping year.  Baby steps right?

Also I succeeded for the most part in some of my other resolutions that I never listed out here (like exercising) so you know all is not lost.  I have a better feeling about 2018 in general and I'll be talking about my new resolutions soon.  But excuse me while I finally purchase the Elizabeth Suzann clothing (Clyde pants and the Clyde Jacket) and Sevilla Smith shoes (well maybe) I've been eyeing all year!

Away Luggage Review - The Bigger Carry-On Suitcase {Updated February 2021}

Taken by a friend and my attempt at a blogger shot. Remind me never to do shots that angle from the bottom up because hellloooo double chin >.<

One of my friends calls this the basic blogger suitcase and he's right.  Every large blogger/Instagrammer I know has gotten one of these things for free.  Unfortunately I'm a small-beans blogger so I had to buy my own.  But on the bright side, I then get to say whatever I want about this suitcase without any pressure.  So here goes my unsponsored and hopefully unbiased review of Away's Bigger Carry-On suitcase. 

So I purchased this suitcase because my dog Hachi, one day out of the blue decided to pee on my Samsonite soft body suitcase (like this one), and I could not get the pee smell out.  It was time to buy a replacement.  And since I've never owned a hard case suitcase before, and because everyone and their mother seemed to have an Away, I got it in my head to try it out.  And I have to say I'm not disappointed.

Inside there is a zippered compartment, which is meant for bulky items, while the other side with straps over a mesh pocket is meant for clothing.  I really like the compartments and the zippered compartment, which you can see holds my hotel slippers that I carry with me every time I travel.  The top right zippered pocket holds the included laundry bag (love!).

On the outside, there's a place to secure your zipper up top and the two usb charging ports are located underneath the handle.  This is definitely the best feature of the luggage.  It was nice to be able to add some extra juice to my phone while I was waiting at the gate.  The battery came pre-charged but it comes with the necessary charging cords (though you still have to provide your own usb phone charging cords).  And some of you may have heard but airlines will start banning suitcases with batteries like these that aren't removable.  Luckily, the battery in Away suitcases are removable and they provide you with the screwdriver necessary to remove it {update: I was just informed in the comments below that all Away suitcases purchased from November 2017 on have a pop out battery so battery removal is even easier.  Dang I wish I had waited for that!}.  And since it is removable, the Away carry-on will still be allowed as a carry-on (but you will probably have to remove it from checked baggage).  So just make sure you carry that screwdriver with you at all times, just in case (I leave it in the mesh pocket with the charging cord and my hotel slippers)!

I also loved that the suitcase was pretty lightweight and the wheels roll super smoothly.  They also have a lifetime warranty on the hard shell, the zippers, wheels and telescoping handles.

But here are the things I didn't like:

- When you have the suitcase on its side (like in the pic above, see especially the right corner side), the heavy compartments compress the zipper area making it hard to unzip.  It's slightly easier to start unzipping while it's still standing on its wheels, and then tilt it down to unzip the rest.  I'm not sure if other hard top suitcases are like this?  Also the black plastic-y leather material surrounding the zipper feels cheap and I'm not sure how well it's going to hold up with heavy usage.

- The telescoping handles are on the thin side and so it's not as sturdy as say the handles on a Rimowa suitcase (luckily my friend had a Rimowa on this trip and so I got to do a side by side comparison of the two).  But when rolling the two, there's not a huge difference (and I definitely wouldn't pay an extra $400 for the Rimowa now having tried both).

So having tried out the Away Bigger Carry-On, would I buy it again?  Yep I would.  I love the charging capability and the really smooth wheels.  And for $245, it's about the same price as a Samsonite but less than a Tumi or Rimowa.  The big test, of course is how it will stand up to traveling and heavy usage.  Well I'll be taking several trips in December and January so I'll update this post after all my travels and let you know how the Away fared!  In the mean time if you'd like to try it yourself, Away has a 100 day return policy and you can get $20 off your purchase (of $125+) with this referral link (thank you for your support!).

{May Update: So after taking it to Hawaii and back, along with a 10 day trip to Europe I can say this Away luggage has held up excellently.  The trip to London, Paris, Amsterdam were a good test of the luggage since I had to wheel it around multiple train stations and airports.  The handles, wheels and zippers are all still holding up.  Would I buy it again?  The answer is still yes!  Also in the comments below someone asked me if the Bigger Carry-on is allowed as a carry-on in Europe and the answer is yes you can get through security with it but if the plane is full, the airline might make you check it in.  I traveled mostly by train so it was great and our last flight from AMS to Heathrow wasn't full so I could put it in the bin sideways.  If you're going to be traveling a lot in Europe I think the Carry-On is a better size.  But we all have different experiences and here's another blogger's review of the Bigger Carry-On vs. the Carry-on and her experience in Europe}

{September Update: So I took this old Away suitcase to the shop to get the battery changed out to the ejectable one, and the ejectable battery system is genius! It’s so easy to remove your battery now, which is also great if you just want a lighter suitcase. I really think Away has made a great carry-on suitcase and I liked it so much I got a second one for the hubby!}

{September 2019 update: When I needed to get a large suitcase for my 1 month trip to Hawaii, I purchased the large Away luggage and I love it. I’ll let you know how it holds up since this one will always get checked-in and we’ll see how it handles all the abuse!}

{February 2021: As you can imagine, I haven’t taken a lot of trips lately but I do have to say the large Away suitcase has held up really well. I stuffed both my bigger carry-on and the large suitcase to the brim for our 4 month stay in Hawaii with family and had no problems. Both were easy to wheel even when overstuffed and the zippers held up fine. You can see below the two Away suitcases along with all the other rag tag luggage we brought to Hawaii (we basically used every single one we had to move for this brief time). Also you can see I’ve got a second Bigger Carry-on in Black (this one already came with ejectable battery). I gave my older gray one to a friend.

Merry Christmas!

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Lowest Cost Per Wear Everlane {Updated Jan 2018}

I've been reviewing Everlane for some time now (almost 3 years!) and have thus accumulated a lot of Everlane items.  These are my Everlane items with the lowest cost per wear (basically the stuff I wear the most).  Oh and I was going to try to calculate the cost per wear on every item but it got to be complicated, especially for the seasonal items.  So this post will be sans the actual numbers.  Without further ado (in order from oldest to newest items):

1) The Modern Point

These are by far my oldest Everlane shoes (I got them 25 months ago) and they're still going strong!  They have gotten better with age, with the soft leather now molded perfectly around my foot.  My modern loafers are long gone, but these are my go-to pair of pointed flats.  You can find the review for these here.

2) The Anorak (no longer sold)

So I purchased this 20 months ago and it has been my go-to every time it rains.  Unfortunately, Everlane has changed their anorak so that they no longer sell this one but instead offer the City Anorak.  I reviewed that anorak and compared it to the original in this post here.

3) The Ribbed Wool Cashmere Crew

This has been my everyday sweater for the last year during the winter and spring seasons.  I love the vertical stripes, which help make me look a tad longer and the thick wool-cashmere blended knit.  I'm not exactly sure why I reach for this sweater more than my Everlane cashmere sweaters, but I do think that the wool blend makes this sweater less warm than the 100% cashmere ones (which I prefer for the California winters).  Also I think the 100% cashmere sweaters are tad more fragile and pill easier than this wool blended one.  Everlane is still selling this sweater (though in limited sizes), and they also came out with some new ones in the wool-cashmere blend like this (crazy high) turtle neck one and this cardigan (which I kinda love).  I recently got the waffled wool cashmere sweater and will review that soon (spoiler: I'm on the fence about it).  You can read my original review of this sweater here.

4) The Dipped Zip Tote (The Twill Zip Tote)

Everlane no longer has the one I use (the black on black) but they do have the gray twill with black or navy dipped bottoms.  I've been using this almost daily as my work bag (except for the short time I used the canvas backpack as a work bag in the summer) and I love it!  The dipped bottom makes a huge difference in keeping the shape of the bag and I recommend only buying the dipped versions (I tried the regular pocket twill tote and whenever I put anything in it, the bottom would sag out thus changing the shape of the bag).  My only gripe with this bag is that it picks up dog hair like crazy and you can see it on the black canvas.  If I were to purchase this again I would definitely go with the gray twill versions so you can't see the hair as much.  For my original review of this tote, go here.

5) The Day Heel

These heels have been my go-to pair of heels ever since I got them, and you can tell since they pop up on my blog allll the time.  I love the soft leather and the block heel.  Recently, though, I wore them for a 4+ hour shopping trip (with constant walking) and they did give me a blister on my pinky toe of one foot (so the toe box needed some breaking in for me) and there was some rubbing on the heels (but no actual blister formed).  But I still love these shoes and now I know just not to wear them when I know I'll be walking miles.  I did stand around in them for 4+ hours once and it was fine.  Read my original review of these heels here.

6) Not pictured: The Street Sandals

Well these sandals are not pictured since I ended up having to throw them away this year after constant wear for about 2 years.  I seriously loved them to death.  They are the most comfy pair of shoes I've ever owned and wore them everywhere.  For the second year of wear, I cut off the elastic backing since it was getting super dirty, and I actually really loved the look without them.  I already have a back-up pair ready to go as soon as the summer months roll around.  You can find my review of these shoes here.

7) Not pictured: Waffle Knit Cashmere Square Crew

Since this is my newest favorite edition I can't exactly say it has low cost per wear yet.  But it's definitely my favorite of the season and I've been wearing it at least 2-3 times per week.  My review of it is here.

{Jan 2018 Update: so I re-purchased the street sandals (#6) above when Everlane had their "Choose what you pay" sale and don't remember the leather being so stiff.  If you're finding that the leather is too stiff I would recommend softening it with a little Chamberlain's Leather Milk No. 1 or no. 6 (reviewed here).  Not only will it protect your leather sandals a bit more in the rain but I suspect the leather has dried out since these sandals were first released, thus making it stiffer.  Also until the leather is stretched out I would recommend putting these strips on the places where the sandal rubs (for me it's on the top of my foot where the larger strap meets the foot).}