This girl is on firrreee: six months on FIRE

I had originally written this post over a month ago (before we purchased a home). So even though we’re not quite on the FIRE track, we’re still working on it. Anyway here is the original post:

(Lol, you know I’ve been just itching to make those FIRE puns). Anyway for those who aren’t familiar with FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), it’s a movement to save money, put it towards investments, so that you have the financial freedom to do what you like (more about it here). You basically want to get to the point where your expenses are covered your passive income earned through interest of stock or rent collected on properties. I’m super grateful to have the privilege to work on my FIRE path. And a reader has asked what that looks like for me. Since I’ve only started 6 months ago (and this is a years-long or even decades-long plan) I’m very much still a newbie. There are many other experts out there who have achieved their FIRE number and right blogs about what it’s like for them.

The first step of our FIRE plan was to start tracking our expenses. We combined all our bank accounts and credit card statements under Mint so we could see where our money was going. My husband is the one organizing (ie categorizing expenses) and then he tells me how we’re doing. This is also the first time I’ve shared my accounts with him so now I’m much more careful what I spend my money on, knowing there’s going to be a second pair of eyes judging me (which is a good thing).

Also starting in December/January, we started to limit our expenses. The first thing we cut out was eating out. We used to eat out at least twice a week (and while we were running the Airstream business we would eat out twice a day about 6 times a week—crazy I know but we were busy running a business and we weren’t on FIRE). So February (before the baby came), was probably our lowest spend month ever in the history of us. Of course now with baby, we never eat out anymore. Though the temptation to get food delivery or takeout is high we resist, and we keep it to maybe one takeout a week if that (it has become a treat when we do). My husband brings lunch from home to work, even if that means a $3-4 burrito from Trader Joes (but it beats his at minimum $11 lunches he gets in downtown SF). I’ve also started clipping coupons for places we like to eat (like a BOGO for bagel sandwiches at Noah’s Bagels—such a good deal!), and that would be our treat meal out sometimes.

As for my blog expenses, I’m no longer just purchasing things willy nilly (though it may look like I still am acquiring a lot—but really this is me trying to be better). I’ve been buying a lot of things off of the RealReal when I want to try stuff (like the Martiniano shoes, kowtow romper, Chanel ballet flats, etc.). I sold off a bunch of things one month and instead of collecting a check, I decided to go with credit so I have revolving RealReal credit to try things. Also I’ve been selling things on eBay and have made my Paypal account a revolving credit account to try things for the blog. This also makes tracking expenses easier for my husband since he doesn’t constantly see an outgoing and incoming amount that’s not related to our daily life. I’m also tracking my blog expenses separately to make sure I’m not spending more than I’m earning.

And then we started investing our money into Vanguard Index funds. I’m no expert so I’m trying out several different index and mutual funds after reading up on them. So far they’re doing well but the market is currently down right now and we aren’t doing as well as they were. But of course that’s just how it goes with the stock market. If anything, now is the time to buy more (it’s on sale! lol).

It may sound like we’re only being frugal with the small stuff but that’s because we’ve gotten the big stuff luckily out of the way. No car payments with one really old car and one newer but used car. We’re both suuuuuper duper duper lucky not to have any college loans. We got really lucky also by being able to buy a house when we were young and then selling it when it was at a market high. Currently we’re living in an apartment but are looking to move back into a house. We’ll end up taking on some debt then but currently we are debt free. So yep, we’re focusing on the smaller savings now. But seriously all the small things add up. {Update: We purchased a house and are now in debt. We’re going to have to work extra hard in budgeting and keeping all other expenses low.}

Anyway if you’re new to the concept and want some practical tips, I recommend reading Your Money or Your Life. It’s what got me going down this path and really motivated to get my financial life in order. And I’m by no means there yet and am still constantly figuring out how to live with the FIRE concept.

Why I Think A Virtual Assistant is Essential

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I have a different sort of post today since I’m getting a bit fatigued about going on and on about clothes sometimes. Today I wanted to talk about how essential Amazon’s Echo (aka Alexa) has become in my new life with the baby. Here are the top ways I use Alexa and if you don’t currently have a digital assistant I highly recommend looking into getting one. You don’t know how convenient it is until you start using it.

1) Turning on and off the lights. We have both a smart plug connected to lamps as well as a smart switch wired into the walls so that we can just “Alexa turn on the living room” or “Alexa turn on Emi’s room.” This is especially useful when carrying a squirming baby or if you have your hands full in general. You can also turn on and off lights from different rooms.

2) When I was using the Medela breast pump (reviewed here), it didn’t come with a timer. So I would always call out to Alexa “start a timer for 15 minutes.” Again, no need to fiddle with a timer when I have my hands busy setting up the breast pump.

3) We use Alexa’s pre-programmed soothing noises for Emi’s sound machine. We just say “Alexa turn on rains sounds” and it’ll go on for an hour (you can also loop it so it goes on until you tell it to stop). We still have a mobile sound machine for when she sleeps in her stroller or at a friend’s house but we saved money on not having to buy a permanent at home plugged-in sound machine.

4) My husband especially loves music so he tells Alexa to play music all the time. We have it connected to our Spotify account so that we can pull up all our favorite playlists and artists easily. He’s also trying to expand Emi’s musical tastes early lol.

5) And as a reader called out in my Fourth Trimester Essentials post, a video monitor is essential for sleep training. You need to know if she is crying because she flipped over and can’t flip back or because she’s just generally being fussy. We have our nest cam connected to our Amazon Show so that we can easily say “Alexa show me the crib” and I can monitor her from the living room.

6) We also have our Alexa connected to our nest thermostat so we can easily call out “Alexa set the temperature to 74” or “Alexa turn off the AC.” It makes it super easy to change the temperatures without having to walk up to the thermostat.

We love our Amazon echo system so much we have two echo dots and one echo spot (so basically an Alexa in every room). This is not sponsored by Amazon and I’m just a huge fan of the convenience of Alexa. Google Home is another virtual assistant that works just as well. But don’t mix the two ecosystems and just stick to one for convenience.

Anyone else have a virtual assistant integrated into their home life? What do you use it for most?

What I Bought in August

Aaaaand we’re back on the buying train. A month “detox” on spending won’t do much except maybe give you some time to ruminate before purchasing. Oh, but waiting did do some good in that now some of the items I was eyeing went on sale!

What I Bought

That KOTN dress I had on my list last month went on sale! Yay for saving some money while trying out a brand I’ve been itching to try for awhile.

I bought the black Only Child Alta top in black raw silk as I had planned last month (the Olive version went on sale in early August, and I was tempted but the black would be more of a staple in my wardrobe). I sold both my Elizabeth Suzann silk Georgia tee (which was gorgeous but I just never reached for that rust color) and the ES Petra crop. So I have no regrets on splurging on the Alta (especially since I wear the white one so much).

Everlane: Recotton Henley, Collarless Air Shirt, Silky Cotton Lantern Shirt, and the short sleeve Crew Neck Bodysuit which I all sent back. I wasn’t in love with them and didn’t feel like making the effort to blog about it. Sorry y’all but blogging burnout.

Elizabeth Suzann silk Harlow dress from eBay: loooove this and have worn it out twice already. I have a feeling this will be a staple in closet.

Mansur Gavriel Mini Mini Lady bag: bought this used on the RealReal and used store credit. I saw this on a friend and loved it on her. So I thought I’d give it a try. I’ve been like a MG Lady bag goldilocks and have owned in the past the large size (no longer produced), the regular size (which is now the large size) and the mini. Maybe the mini mini is the one for me?

What I was gifted

Everlane Denim Chore Coat and the cropped chunky cardigan (aka the Baaba knock-off; and yes I succumbed to the temptation of it even though it is made with 23% nylon. More thoughts about that when I blog about it).

And sorry no links and photos with this post because blog burnout >.<

Unsponsored Chanel Ballet Flats Review: Are They Really Worth It?

There are some costly items are that luxurious and others that are merely expensive and it’s hard to tell the difference. I’ve purchased a lot of expensive items in my lifetime (and sold a lot of them too), and I feel like I’ve gotten better at telling the difference. So are these Chanel ballet flats really a luxury or just merely expensive?

To me, they are merely expensive. TBH they don’t feel all that different from other ballet flats that I’ve owned. I mean the leather is nice and shoes are sturdy but nothing particularly screams “this is worth $750”. They just have the interlocking C’s on the cap toe and the words “Chanel” on the insole. But I’m no expert on ballet flats (I’ve only owned several pairs in my lifetime and they’re not my favorite type of shoe). My idea of a luxurious flat are Martiniano Glove shoes where the leather feels suuuper buttery and sumptuous.

But to be fair, these Chanel ballet flats are durable (I got a used pair and I still wear them out quite a bit and they look great). And they’re a classic that probably won’t ever go out of style.

As for sizing, if you have wide feet like I do you’re going to need to go up at least half a size. I usually wear a size 8 or 38, and I got these in a 38.5. So far I haven’t had any blisters in these, but I also got these used and so they were already broken-in for me.

Since these ballet flats currently retail new for $750 (craaazy), I highly recommend buying them used on a site like Fashionphile or the RealReal. And if you’re worried about the authenticity of used shoes, here’s a quick rundown of how to spot the real thing. And if you want to be 100% certain of authenticity, you can pay for an authentication service like Etinceler (just be sure to get the authentication done while you’re in the return window).

Elizabeth Suzann Review: The Harlow Dress

taken when I was still pregnant

So this review has been sitting in my drafts folder for a very long time since I first purchased this cotton Harlow dress (link to the Harlow page on ES) back when Elizabeth Suzann had a sale for them at the end of 2018. I’ve wanted to try the Harlow dress for a long time, ever since seeing campaign images from ES like the one below.

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Something about the easiness and swinginess of the dress got me. But since the linen and silk versions are $245 and $265 respectively, I was a bit hesitant to spend that much on an easy summer dress. Also I thought the linen one might be too voluminous for my frame and the silk too fancy for daily wear. So when the cotton poplin Harlow went “on sale” (due to ES phasing out the cotton fabric for this style) for sub $200 I jumped at the chance. Unfortunately it was the dead of winter when I got it, so it was just in time to wear it for Christmas (that’s when the first photo above was taken). I was able to pull it off layered (while pregnant) but didn’t really have a chance to wear it much after that.

But now that it’s summer, I am loving this dress. It’s so easy to wear and comfy (basically like a nightie). I like that the cotton poplin is lightweight without being too voluminous. But the cotton does wrinkle pretty easily and it picks up lint and dog hair like crazy. If I end up wearing this dress a lot, I’ll consider splurging on the silk version.

Oh and as for sizing, I decided to get a medium because I didn’t want any pulling in the chest area. I’m usually a small in ES, but when you look at the Harlow pages on their site, when the model is wearing a smaller size the dress kind of pulls at the chest. It makes the chest area look more like an X in the front, while I wanted it to look more like a tank, with the shoulder part dropping straight down. But that does mean the dress is a tad large on me and you can see my bra band in the back. I think if you’re wearing a black bra, no one’s going to notice. Or make it fun and wear a really outrageous color bra and it’ll just peek out over the dress.

And even though there’s a lot of fabric with this dress, which can billow out with the wind (so don’t really wear it on a super windy day), you actually won’t look big in it because of the way it drapes. If you want to make it look even more slimming, a belt at the natural waist might work too. As for me, I can’t wait to wear this with some straw accessories and call it a summer day!

P.S. I just got the silk Harlow dress secondhand via eBay and it totally feels different. I love it so much!

Celine Soft Cube Bag 100 Wears Later

My Celine Soft Cube bag (originally reviewed here) is the third item in my closet to join the “100 wears” club after my Everlane Day Market tote and my Vince Blair sneakers (since recording wears in January 2018). And like I did with the other two items, I like to check-in on these items to see how they’ve fared after 100 wears.

I first got this bag back in August of last year, and I bought it used from Fashionphile. So it’s real wear count is more than 100, but I’ve personally used it now 105 times. And how is it doing? It’s looking pretty darn good. Upon close inspection there is only one popped stitch on one of the handles (but it hasn’t unraveled or anything), and a mark on one of the corners. Also there’s a bit of a slumping in of the corners as the leather softens (see pics below), but this doesn’t bother me.

And this is despite all the abuse I give my bags (for example, the Everlane Day Tote didn’t fare as well). This Celine Soft Cube bag looks almost just as good as the day I bought it and there aren’t any major scratches or gouges. The lambskin leather they used for this bag is tough!

I did however noticed the leather looking a tad dry up close. So I did a quick buff with my favorite leather conditioner, Chamberlain’s Leather Milk No.1 (reviewed here). And now the leather is looking more hydrated, and it looks like I got some dirt off the bag as well (but I could only tell by looking at the sponge since the bag itself is so dark).

Out of all my most worn bags, this one has held up like a champ and I can’t wait to see how it holds up after 100 more wears!

Weekend Ramblings

And another week has flown by and I’ve barely written anything. Things have been uber busy here and the big news is it looks like I’ll be moving again. This “Temporary-House Wifey” name has begun to take on a self-fulfilling prophecy vibe. I’ve moved from Airstream to a larger trailer to a house to an apartment in 1 year. Now it looks like we might be moving into a house again which I’m both excited and anxious about. This better be my last move for awhile, and I might finally take the time to change my blog name (maybe to Permanent-House Wifey? lol just kidding, it’ll be better than that hopefully). Also I had a whole post written for this Tuesday and sitting in my post schedule for weeks about being on the FIRE track (requested by a reader) but now I’m thinking I won’t publish it because how can I talk about being on FIRE when I just took on a whole mountain a debt to buy a house >.< . That is definitely anti-FIRE and more like keeping up with the Joneses (though to be fair, we really bought this house to raise Emi in because a small apartment for a kid is rather cramped + better school districts). But I very much look forward to having my own bloffice (blog-office) again and maybe I’ll start taking regular ootds again. I also look forward to a yard and composting again in an effort to reduce my garbage output.

There’s a saying in Japanese about getting poorer from moving. And I think there’s definitely some truth to that. With each move we throw things out (especially when downsizing) and then sometimes buy new things to fit the new space. Well since we’re upsizing again, we are looking to purchase some new furniture and new appliances (the current ones in this 1970s built home is from the 80’s). I don’t know how we’re going to be FIRE through it all but we’re definitely going to be counting on some black friday deals and maybe I’ll get a job at Crate and Barrel or something to try to defray some of the furniture costs. We’ll see if they even hire me lol.

And lastly I sympathized Leah’s post about her sustainability fail when moving. I haven’t really tried too hard to be sustainable this year due to the baby (I’m just too tired y’all) but I definitely feel some of the guilt she feels. But sometimes we just need to cut ourselves a break. We can only do what we’re mentally capable of, and tbh individual efforts in sustainability is a drop in the bucket compared to what policy changes can do (though that’s not an excuse to stop trying).

Unsponsored Sarah Flint Review: Lana Flats

After seeing Sarah Flint flats on the feet of one of my favorite ethical clothing influencers, Meghan Markle, I decided I wanted to learn more about the company and try out one of their flats.

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Sarah Flint is a direct to consumer brand, designed by a woman (Sarah) that works directly with Italian shoemakers for their shoes. If we can assume that “artisanal” shoe factories in Italy pay their workers a fair wage, then this brand falls under the socially ethical realm. In a lot of ways, Sarah Flint reminds me of M.Gemi (reviewed here, here, and here). Maybe because they’re both direct to consumer and made in Italy. Though M.Gemi price points are about $100 less than Sarah Flint. Sarah Flint shoes will set you back about $300+. The particular flat I tried, called the Lana (which Sarah Flint is wearing below) is priced at $365.

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But rather than spending the $365 for brand new shoes, I decided to stalk the RealReal and wait it out for a used pair. And I was able to snag the Lana flats in my size for $76! So what did I think of these flats? After having tried it out, I can tell you Meghan Markle must have normal to narrow feet, lol. My slightly wide feet did not work for these flats. And keep in mind this is after buying it used (so someone got the initial joy of breaking it in). The length was perfect and the width might have eventually stretched out (on the website they claim that it would), but the outer edges that hug the foot rubbed like a mofo. Unfortunately for me the size 38 flats (my usual size) didn’t work for me. If I ever see a size 38.5 on the RealReal I might try it out (and I’ll update my review when I do), but I could see the length being too long for me and my heel slipping out. Just like with some Italian factories that Everlane uses, their lasts (foot molds) just aren’t meant for my feet (or at least for this particular Sarah Flint shoe).

Speaking of Everlane’s Italian made shoes, I wonder what is the reason the price difference between their shoes and the ones by Sarah Flint is so great (almost $200 less for Everlane). For reference, Everlane’s Boss Flats, which look like some of the shoes Sarah Flint offers, costs $66 to make and Everlane prices it at $165. I wonder if the Sarah Flint shoes have higher end materials and trickier workmanship? Or do they just mark it up more because they can? Even M.Gemi is cheaper and with similar stuff. To me it’s not quite worth it. For just a bit more, you can buy the Martiniano glove flats (reviewed here) which are pure luxury.

But if you want to try them out for yourself and you have normal to narrow feet then this referral link will get you $50 off your first order (I will also get $50 but will probably give them to readers in giveaway contests like I normally do).

kowtow Review: Black Cotton Romper

kowtow is an ethical brand that I only know about because of Grechen. They’re a New Zealand brand that takes their sustainability and ethical manufacturing seriously. They use fair trade organic cotton or tencel, use harm-free dyes, and are also working on circularity with a take back program. In many ways, you can’t get a more ethical brand. But I wouldn’t love them if they’re clothes were also not modern and chic. If Eileen Fisher and COS had a baby, it would be kowtow. The only drawback to them is that their shipping and returns are coming from New Zealand so it’s not so easy for us in the US (though shipping is free when you spend over $200). And of course the price point is not cheap (though it shouldn’t be when they’re doing all these things right). But because of these last two points, I hadn’t tried kowtow even though they were on my radar for quite awhile.

{Wearing: kowtow Romper, Chanel ballet flats (from TRR), thrifted hat}

But I noticed that the RealReal (TRR) carried quite a few items from kowtow, and usually a lot of the same items (which makes me think they’re getting it from a boutique that is trying to offload items and not from individual sellers). Also since this was in “pristine condition”, it was basically new. So when I got some TRR credit I decided to give them a shot (even though TRR’s own shipping and return policy aren’t great). But the price point of the items can’t be beat. I got this romper for a total of $52 (the 20% discount included)! Since their dresses go for about $200-$300 new, this is quite a steal.

{Wearing: kowtow Romper, Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here), Nano Celine Belt Bag (reviewed here)}

As for sizing, I’m wearing a small here and it’s the perfect size. It’s pretty slim on top so if you’re bigger in the chest you might need to consider sizing up, depending on the garment. But since this romper is belted at the waist, it’s really forgiving around the midsection. Looking at their site, I do notice that a lot of their items are made for tall people so if you’re on the shorter side like myself, some of their stuff might not work out so well. Or you’ll have to do some hemming.

Their label reads designed in New Zealand and made ethically in India from organic cotton. The cotton poplin fabric is midweight and smooth. It feels like something Cuyana would use. And the construction is flawless. The bottom part of the romper has hidden pleats on the sides to give you a bit more volume on the bottom overall without adding volume around the waist. The collar at the neckline is slim and minimal. It is in the details of a garment like this that you know that the design and production are top-notch.

So if you’re looking for a simple, modern and ethically-made quality item I can’t recommend kowtow enough. And even more so if you’re tall. As for me, I’ll still be stalking TRR for kowtow items to add to my closet!

Weekend Update/Ramblings

Hi y’all, a personal ramblings post here today. July was a brutal month for me (#mercuryretrograde?) with an AC condensation line leak that ended up leaking into our bathroom (well first it leaked into our closet, then the bathroom). This actually had been going on for years (before we purchased the apartment) because there was mold under the flooring and on the drywall behind the mirror. Glad we got it all removed but it’s been quite a trial. Now we have to rebuild our bathroom and on a budget since our home insurance deductible is so high it doesn’t make sense to file a claim. Oh and now that we’re using our second bathroom consistently for the first time, there’s a leak at the tub faucet. Aaaand the kitchen sink disposal was leaking too (luckily my husband has decided to tackle these things with a little help from YouTube so we’re not paying for these smaller fixes).

On top of that my fibroids have grown very large again so I look like I’m back in my second trimester of pregnancy (I could probably continue posts about pregnancy outfits at this point lol). I suspect it’s all the hormones now that I’ve stopped breastfeeding (yep I’ve given up—I tried my best but when I only produce a third of her needed intake despite all the work and grief, I decided it just wasn’t worth my mental health). Anyway it looks like a hysterectomy is pretty evident and it’s just a matter of when. I have a whole slew of thoughts and emotions about that but I’m not quite ready to unpack them here.

And lastly I’ve been thinking more about my dad (who passed away in December). Maybe it’s because we finally booked our flights back home to Hawaii and now I have to face that 1) he won’t be there (this will be my first time back since he passed) and 2) I have to clean-up and donate/throwaway most of his belongings at his apartment. I’ve read several articles about grief cleaning to prepare myself. I know the stuff does not make the man so I only plan to keep a couple of his things (especially since it’ll have to fit into a suitcase to bring back to Cali). But we’ll see how that goes.

Sorry if that was all a bit heavy, but August is a new month and I’m ready to face my challenges head on!

Everlane Review: The Cotton Weave Collarless Shirtdress and Picnic Dress

I love Everlane’s Cotton Collarless Belted Shirtdress from 2 years ago (reviewed here). It’s one of my most favorite dresses from Everlane, but haven’t worn it lately due to some added baby weight (which makes the dress come up quite short when belted) So I was super excited to see a new version of their collarless shirtdress for 2019 in a new cotton weave fabric and with longer sleeves! Since I wasn’t offered any free items from Everlane in June (probably because I haven’t been keeping up with timely reviews lol) I purchased this myself with some referral credit (thank you to all those who supported me by using my referral link). I actually prefer being able to review items this way since I feel it makes the review a tad more objective, plus I tend to love the items I purchase myself more (like the Everlane mini form bag and the cotton linen v-neck). Oh, and since I wanted the free shipping, I decided to try out Everlane’s Cotton Weave Picnic Dress as well.

So what did I think of Everlane’s new summer dresses?

I actually love both styles and ended up keeping both!

The Cotton Weave Collarless Shirt Dress

First of all, I really love the new cotton weave fabric that they’re using for this year’s collarless shirt dress. It’s super soft and yet feels durable. The cotton weave has a texture that’s almost like a lightweight corduroy. I think this fabric is less prone to wrinkles than the cotton poplin they used for their first collarless dress. The sizing is similar to their old dress though this year’s version is a tiny bit longer (I got a size 4). But it’s still a tad short on me when I raise my arms (see pic) and I’m 5’4” (and even if you get a larger size, the length only increases marginally).

So if you’re quite a bit taller, this dress might be too short for comfort. At first I was thinking of returning the dress because of this, but I decided to keep it because 1) I don’t know if there would be many situations where I need to raise my arms in this dress (and if there is, I’ll just be careful) but also because 2) I saw this ad campaign for Hackwith Design House’s button-up jacket dress.

The Everlane dress looks similar enough and since I didn’t want to spend $205, I decided to try this collarless shirtdress as both a dress and a duster. And I like it. I plan to try more combos of this dress as a duster, but I like the versatility of having it work as both a dress and a lightweight duster. Oh and they added a belt loop to this year’s dress which is great because I lost the belt of my 2017 collarless shirtdress since there was no belt loop. A small but convenient improvement.

{Wearing: Only Child Alta Top (reviewed here), Only Child Cove Pants (reviewed here), Everlane V sling back (reviewed here), Celine Soft Cube Bag (reviewed here)}

The Cotton Weave Picnic Dress

I originally ordered this cotton weave picnic dress with the intention of trying it on, disliking it, and then returning it. And tbh ordered it as my second item so I could get free shipping. But when I tried it on, I didn’t hate it. I was a little iffy about it, but with the encouragement of those on my Insta stories, I decided to keep it. I like the longer midi length of this on me. At first I thought it might be too long, but I think it’s fine (and looks great especially with some low heels like the Everlane Day Heels I’m wearing).

I ordered this in a size 6 because I’ve noticed with Everlane’s “picnic” style tops and dresses, the chest circumference is a bit tight on me in my normal Everlane size of 4. At size 6, it’s just right so there’s no pinching of the underarm fat. Also the backside is elastic so that makes the chest area slightly more forgiving and it makes it easier to put on/take off this dress. The buttons that run along the front are fake and you can’t actually button/unbutton this dress. That makes this dress very breastfeeding UN-friendly but at the same time, you won’t have any gaping holes between the buttons. There’s a side zip to help make putting on/taking off this dress easier. I do like that this dress is slightly form fitting so that it looks great even without the tie. I look forward to wearing this dress more once I stop breastfeeding. Also I plan to wear this dress with a white shirt underneath if the weather is on the cool side.

So I had only planned on keeping one dress (the collarless shirtdress) when I bought them, and then planned on keeping just the picnic dress when I tried them on. But ended up keeping both to work with my wardrobe lol. Hope you see these dresses in heavy rotation as the summer wears on!

PACT Review: The T-Shirt Pocket Dress

I’ve been slowly and quietly been trying things from PACT with some of the credit earned by those who purchase through my referral link (you also get 20% off with this link)—and thank you for your support! I’ve tried their t-shirt (which I compared with other black tees in the review here) and I’ve tried their leggings (which I compare with other maternity leggings here). I’ve also tried their baby onsies and their sateen crib sheet, which were really quite good though I haven’t written a review of them. But nothing was so good (since their undies which I reviewed over a year and a half ago here) that it compelled me to write a dedicated review about it, until now.

I ordered a bunch of their T-shirt pocket dresses right after giving birth, thinking I would use them as sleepwear since I didn’t want to wear any sort of pants at the time. But I recovered quickly enough so that I started wearing my old Pjs within a week or two and then forgot about my order of these dresses (especially since it was still cold and wintery). But now with summer here in full force, thanks to a couple of heat waves hitting the Bay Area, I dug around my closet for easy summery things I could wear and found these dresses. When I tried them on, I fell in love. I can’t remember having had a good heavyweight cotton t-shirt dress like this in my wardrobe. Many of the t-shirt dresses I’ve tried in the past have been on the thin side, which leads to VPL or feeling slightly exposed. Or they’re so short that you can see my butt when I raise both hands up (*ahem* I’m looking at you Everlane). But PACT got it right. These are what T-shirt dresses should be like.

{Wearing: PACT T-Shirt Dress, Everlane Day Crossover Sandals (reviewed here), Celine Soft Cube Bag (reviewed here)}

First of all the organic cotton is amazing. It’s super thick and slightly textured so the fabric feels substantial. This t-shirt dress won’t flap up with a slight breeze. Also no VPL. And the length is just right, so it won’t show any underwear when you bend down. There’s one small pocket in the front but sadly no pockets at the hips.

And not only is the dress great but they’re made from GOTS certified cotton and produced in a fair trade factory. You can learn more about their ethics and values as a company here.

How I wore this dress the other day

{Wearing: PACT T-Shirt Dress, Everlane Day Crossover Sandals (reviewed here), Everlane relaxed linen shirt (reviewed here), thrifted hat}

I ordered this in a medium because I didn’t want it to be too fitted and I think it’s the perfect size for my 5’4” frame. It’s loose and easy: the perfect combo for summer dress. So if you’ve been looking for a good T-shirt dress, I suggest giving this PACT one a try. In fact, I liked it so much I bought another one in black. It’s sometimes the simplest items that are the hardest to get right. So when I find a gem like this, I tend to purchase an extra.

P.S. Some sizes still available in black and gray for sale on their site ($20 but final sale), but there’s still all the sizes left on Zappos (which I linked to).

Weekend Ramblings: My Current At-Home Facial Regimen

Last weekend I referenced that article about making do so I decided to take that lesson to heart and make do with some of the beauty items I already have. So I dusted off my old microcurrent facial tool (which I was going to write a post about and then got pregnant so I stopped using it) along with the Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment (which I also had to stop for pregnancy) and gave myself a mini facial. And you know what, my skin looks fan-f*-tastic. And voila I now have a new at-home spa facial regimen that I can’t wait to do again and again.

So the microcurrent tool that I have is a cheaper version of the NuFace Facial Toning Tool that I purchased off of Amazon. It’s so old that it’s no longer available, but I think the NuFace tool should work just as well (and in fact NuFace is FDA approved while the cheap China knock-off from Amazon is questionable so if I were to purchase all over again I probably would have gone with Nuface, but I’m going to “make do” and use the one I have). I was actually using this pretty consistently before I got pregnant and I could definitely see a difference. I originally purchased it because I could see some sagginess under my chin and at my neck (the beginnings of a jowl if I were to be honest). And after some research, learned that microcurrent facial toning tools help firm up the skin area by toning the muscle underneath. And it works! But you have to do it consistently and possibly forever lol (or just don’t gain weight/get pregnant and the results might last longer). As soon as I stopped and gained weight, it all came sagging back down. Also if you go for the NuFace tool and then run out of their gel, just use an electrode gel like this one from Amazon (it’s waaaay cheaper and does the same thing as the fancy stuff from NuFace). I used this YouTube tutorial to figure out how to use the microcurrent tool and it really does feel like you’ve just had a spa treatment done.

Then I decided to take it a step further by exfoliating my skin with the Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment. When I originally purchased this I tried leaving it on my face and my skin burned like a mofo. So instead I use it like a face mask, leaving it on for about 5 minutes. And I have to say there’s some tingling before I wash it off, and my skin looks a tad red for the rest of the night. But the next morning, my skin looks and feels amazing. It’s super smooth and soft. I don’t know for sure if I would buy this again since it’s such a strong acid treatment, but I know that I will definitely be buying some kind of acid exfoliation treatment because it really does help keep my skin looking great.

After washing that off, I use my favorite toner and then moisturize with the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream (reviewed here). So yay for making do and using up what you already have (but that doesn’t mean I won’t add the new tools I purchased from the Nordstrom sale to my facial and see where that leads my skin).

Unsponsored Esby Review: The Duffy Jumper

via Garmentory

As I mentioned in my June Wants and Buys post, I saw the Esby Duffy Jumper on Brianna here and fell in love instantly. I had to try this out. Buuuut I definitely did not want to spend $298 on it, so I searched for it secondhand on good ole’ reliable: eBay. And lucky me, there was one in this denim blue color for half the price and in my size (or what I guessed was my size). Brianna got it in an XS and even though she’s skinnier and taller than me, I figured an XS would fit since it’s a drawstring waist and oversized to begin with.

So what do you think?

I’m wearing my favorite heels here (Everlane’s Day Heel Mule) and the hem is still grazing the ground. If I loved this jumper I would consider hemming it to better fit my 5’4” frame. I do like the wide legs bottom and the flattering sleeves. However there are a couple other things I dislike about the jumper so I rather sell it than alter it in hopes of making it fit me and my current wardrobe. The main thing I dislike it the neckline. It’s either a little too high-up for my liking or worn in reverse, it’s waaay too low for comfort.

The material (a 90% cotton, 10% linen blend) is quite heavy and thick, which isn’t great for the super hot summers here (100% linen is better). And although the heavy material provides a nice drape, I can also see it being a huuuge pain in the ass to keep from touching the ground when using the bathroom (also due to the wide legs). And since there’s no give to the fabric, when I wear it with the round collar forward it kind of feels like it’s choking me. Overall, this jumper is just not for me. Which is too bad too since I really wanted to like this US-made ethical brand. I just have a feeling their stuff may be made for women who at least 5’7” or taller. Or just be ready to alter their clothes to fit.

What I Wanted in July

It was “No Buy July” so how did I do?

What I wanted

Only Child Alta top in black raw silk (pictured up top): I already have the white alta top in raw silk and the black alta top in linen. But I think I would get much more mileage out of a black one in raw silk. The linen one is still great but the true beauty of the Alta can be seen in the drape of raw silk. I’m going to sell one of my Elizabeth Suzann pieces and get this first thing in August.

Jenni Kayne mules: Yep, still want these but still can’t bite the bullet. Though I’m starting to think about not getting these and instead get…

The St. Agni Mules: I was resisting getting on the bandwagon but I saw these in black on an Instagram influencer and am now seriously thinking about them. Do I try them out or go with the Jenni Kayne ones?

KOTN Henley Dress: I’ve been eyeing this brand for awhile now but this henley dress in oat is calling my name.

Babaa had a sale this month and I was seriously thinking about breaking the ban and just splurging on a cotton cardigan. But I somehow was able to dissuade myself from buying one, mostly by remembering how it fit when I tried it on in person and that I wasn’t a huge fan at the time. Plus I have more than enough sweaters—I really need to get rid of some when the winter season comes.

What I Bought

Nothing in terms of clothes, but I did buy two beauty tools from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: the GloPRO Microneedling set and the LightStim for wrinkles. So it wasn’t a completely personal spend-free month, but I’ll at least pat myself on the back for not spending money on my closet (because it took some real will power, especially when it came to the babaa cardigan on sale). Also I find that when I try really hard to not buy clothes (like during past clothes shopping bans) I end up spending more money on beauty items >.<

What I was gifted

Everlane Day Tote Mini: I was very lucky to be gifted this tote this month. It was definitely something I would have bought to try out myself so I feel very fortunate to have gotten it for free. I’ve already written a review about it here, but I’ll be sure to update it the more I use it. So far I’ve used it almost everyday since I’ve gotten it and I still love it!

Weekend Update/Ramblings

I’m not a sustainability blogger. I’m a trying-to-do-better-but-still-imperfect blogger. And by trying to do better I’m not comparing myself to others but rather to my former self. So even though my shower routine is zero waste and I bring my own reusable bag to the store 98% of the time, I still use disposable diapers and sometimes get salad in plastic containers once in awhile (well especially since the baby). I don’t shop at fast fashion stores anymore but I eat too much meat. Anyway this is just a preface to my shockingly bad results of this ecological footprint quiz (which I first saw over at Of a Certain Vintage, formerly To a Universe With Love). It’s mainly my food consumption that needs to be better (less meat and less packaged foods).

Mainly, if you’re lucky enough to live in the US or any other developed nation, with air condition, packaged foods, delivery services, etc. your footprint will be higher than most other people in the world. But still it’s good to keep in mind what I can do to improve.

But at the same time it’s important to remember we don’t need to keep up with the minimalist (or sustainable) Jonses either. We just need to do better than our past selves. And one of the ways we can do that is by learning how to make-do. Found this beautifully written piece (via Of a Certain Vintage) about the “Life Changing Magic of Making Do.” There’s so many good points to this article that I have a feeling I’ll be referencing it a lot from now on.

And not related to this but Leah hits it out of the park again with this thoughtful essay about charity.

P.S. I’m selling several of my Elizabeth Suzann items that I haven’t worn in awhile. You can find them on my closet sale page here.

Go Through That Beauty Drawer (or in my case, that beauty plastic bin)

via

Having been an ex-Sephora addict (VIP Rouge easily 5 years in a row), I have spent a lot of money on makeup and skincare (I also used to buy many a duplicates of stuff whenever Sephora would have their sales). And having moved from house to trailer to apartment means that all those beauty products have lived in a plastic bin for the last couple of years. Well now that we’re settled in this apartment for a bit, I decided to finally go through that bin to either use or lose these things. Hence my return to powder foundation (but also due to more even skin thanks to Augustinus Bader Rich Cream). And having gone through all my beauty stuff, I have now vowed not to buy any more lotion until I’ve used up every tube or bottle I have stocked in that bin. Ditto for lip products and nail polish. But now that my skin is at a happy place, I’m hesitant to use some of the stuff I purchased on a whim but haven’t tried yet. Like those clay masks and serums. And yet to straight throw them away would be such a pity for both my wallet and the environment.

So I did some research and found several places you can donate your gently used or unused items. My favorite and the one I sent my products to is Project Beauty Share, based out of Spokane, Washington. They distribute donated items to women who are trying to get back on their feet, whether from homelessness or addiction. And here are the things they accept and don’t accept. Also if you happen to be a hotel bath products hoarder like myself, then you can also donate all unused hotel products. I liked Project Beauty Share the best of all the organizations out there because they’ll take your gently used items (not just brand new and unopened). Because hey if it’s good enough for most people to try the sometimes gross-samples laid out at Sephora, a gently used item from one person shouldn’t go completely to waste (and fill up those landfills). So if you have any gently used items that, c’mon let’s be real, you’re not going to be using any time soon (or at all) send them to Project Beauty Share at 2718 E. Sprague, Spokane, WA 99202. If you live in Spokane, there are physical drop off locations to save on shipping costs.

And when you have your box all packed (but before you tape it up) take in all the things you didn’t use. Also add to that the cost of postage to donate (depending on what you’re donating, it might be cheaper to do a flat rate box, especially if you’re shipping across the country. And if you’re doing a flat rate box but it’s not full yet, go and ask your friends or family if they have anything they might want to donate). And remember all this before you splurge on your next skin care or makeup item.

P.S. Project Beauty Share will also take individually wrapped tampons and pads so if you have any that you’re not going to use, send them those as well (I have some pads that I bought for the post-pregnancy bleed but I hate pads and will not use the rest of them so I’m glad they’re going to get used by someone else).

P.P.S. I used to be a crazy nail polish consumer and I had several smaller plastic bins of it (this was before learning about zero waste and being more conscious of my consumption habits in general). But since you can’t send used nail polish to Project Beauty Share, I’ve sold my nail polish via storenvy and had moderate success. I also gave many of my bottles away to friends. I might not be making my money back but I’m feeling good that they’re being used by somebody else (and TBH nail polish is shared so many times at a nail salon so again getting a personal nail polish used by one person is comparatively nbd). Just something to keep in mind if you’re ever trying to get rid of nail polish (because also technically you should not just be throwing these away in the trash—here’s how to safely dispose of them).

Everlane Review: The Day Tote Mini

I was very lucky to be asked again this month if I wanted anything from Everlane’s line sheet as an affiliate. And you bet I zoomed in on their Day Tote Mini. Their regular Day Tote is an all time favorite (the most used bag in my closet, which I wrote about here), so I was super excited to try out the mini version since I’m all about smaller bags now (that I can hang off the stroller bar). So even if I wasn’t gifted this awesome bag, I would have most definitely purchased it myself to try it out.

I love the Day Tote Mini because it reminds me of the Celine small vertical cabas, which I always wanted and was *this close* to buying once. But in the end I decided not to because it seemed too plain of a bag to spend over a $1200 for. So I was super excited to see the Day Tote Mini on Everlane’s Coming Soon page and couldn’t wait to take it for a spin. And after having tried it out for a bit, I like this Day Tote Mini a lot. It might actually be a bit better than the Celine small vertical cabas because it’s not as big or as tall. So I can keep things upright and organized (while I could see things getting lost at the bottom of the Celine cabas). Also the shorter bag works well for my petite frame.

The leather of the Day Tote Mini is the same sturdy but lightweight leather that I’ve come to know and love on the regular Day Tote. I like that this tote can stand up on it’s own and doesn’t slouch over like a lot of other totes (however I should note, if you’re not careful how you pack the regular Day Tote, you can distort the leather so it ends up looking wonky like mine did). But I don’t really foresee that same problem with this mini tote since it’s so small, you can’t really overstuff it with heavy items that will bend it out of shape. Oh and I accidentally poured hot water all over this bag and it was completely fine. Just wiped off the water and it was as good as new (no water spots!).

This Day Tote Mini fits all the essentials and then some. I like that I can fit a baby’s bottle upright in there if I need to. So you could probably fit a small water bottle if needed. You could also fit a book or kindle in there. I also love that I can fit things like my sunglass case and sunblock vertically so everything is easy to find. There’s one flat pocket inside that fits my keys and lip balm.

{Wearing: Everlane Cotton Weave Collarless Shirtdress (review coming soon), Everlane V Slingback (reviewed here), Everlane Day Tote Mini, and thrifted hat}

The crossbody strap is adjustable or you can remove it completely which is a nice feature to have. These days since I hang my bag on the stroller I like to have to the option to remove the crossbody strap. For this bag, I remove one side but leave the other side attached just in case I need to quickly throw it over my shoulder. Oh, and the holes where the crossbody strap loops through are reinforced so you don’t have to worry about that area getting worn out if you end up carrying heavy items in your bag.

The only drawback to this bag is that there is no closure so if you’re in a crowded place, you’re going to either want to hold the bag in your hands or have at least one hand over it when wearing it over your shoulder. And if you have a lot of things in your bag, you definitely want to do this since it will gape open when stuffed. If your bag isn’t as stuffed then the handles will kind of come together when slung over your hip so it’s not too open.

I was actually really tempted to get the taupe color above but I played it safe and got black. Since the leather feels similar to the leather of my Everlane mini form bag (and they’re made in the same factory), I don’t think the lighter colors will have issues with color transfer from jeans or getting marked up easily (though I don’t know for sure). But I do like that the black looks classic and it goes with this year’s “summer witch” theme lol. But I’m pretty disappointed with the pale yellow color they have for the third option. A light gray would have been more versatile.

Anyway I put together this review a little early since it was requested by a reader. And I’ll update it to let you know how the bag wears over time! But I hope I’ll be writing a 100 days wear post about this bag (like I did for the regular Day Tote) by the end of the year!

P.S. And congrats to Jenn R. for winning the Everlane gift card giveaway! You have been emailed :)

Weekend Update/Ramblings

I really dislike posing for pictures. That’s a funny statement coming from a fashion/style/outfit blogger, but it’s true. All I really want to do is write about what I think (about this item of clothing, that baby toy, or some beauty product or other). But pictures come with the blogging territory so I suck it up and try not to GAF. But sometimes I do. Especially when trying to take an outfit shot on the street (like the one I tooke below for the Everlane Chino Shorts review I did this past week), because that’s the only time I’ll bother to change out of PJs these days. It’s hard not to be self-conscious. It would be great to take outfit shots at home but unfortunately the lighting in our new apartment is pretty terrible (though my mom’s apartment is better so you might see some shots from there). Anyway it’s just interesting that an unphotogenic introvert like myself is now taking pictures on the street for a blog >.< lol.

I read this post interviewing single women in their 40’s and 50’s and enjoyed it. I could see myself happily unmarried and childless if my life had turned out differently. But I’m just as grateful for the life I have now. Like one of the women said, “You can have a great life in any situation. You have to be thankful in it, whatever is happening.”

And if you’ve been eyeing Everlane’s Day Market Tote (or Day Square Tote) they’re on sale today only for $125 (so that’s about $50-40 off depending on which tote you’re looking at). I mean it’s a good tote and the most used bag in my closet so I would feel remiss not to mention it.

I got sucked into Amazon’s Prime Day. Of course I didn’t plan on buying anything but did end up buying stuff for the baby that we needed and happened to be on sale (they had so many things that we had already purchased on sale too, darn it!). Also got some baby shower gifts that were on my friend’s registry that also happened to be on sale. And lastly I got some books that were on my wishlist for awhile since there was a $5 off $15 promo. Man, Amazon really knows how to hook me in. Anyone else get sucked into Amazon Prime Day?

Oh and last week I talked about not buying anything from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. Well now I have to eat my words because I did some early morning impulse purchases >.< yesterday . I got this GloPRO Microneedling set (usually $229 at Sephora and $179 for the Nordstrom sale) because if I’m spending $260+ on Augustinus Bader cream, I might as well try to make it as effective as possible with some microneedling (which allows serums and creams to sink deeper into the skin). And then I also got this red LED light wand from LightStim (normally $249, on sale for $165) after reading an article about the wonders of LED light on wrinkles and large pores. I don’t have the time to go for those seriously expensive facials that I see those NYC influencers go to, but I can try to see if these at-home tools might do the trick. As usual I’ll review all these products after trying them out consistently for awhile.