January is finally winding down, and I’m excited to present the first best things ever for 2019. This month, the best things ever are:
Trunk Club
Two bloggers I follow, Blonde in the District and Glass of Glam, recently turned me on to Trunk Club, a clothing subscription service. I’ve been feeling a bit meh about my wardrobe lately, and Trunk Club seemed like the perfect solution.
The process is very simple. You visit the website, complete a few short questions and rate a number of clothing selections. Next, a stylist puts together a trunk for you to explore. If you like the items, you can add them to your trunk. I was able to give feedback to Hayley, my stylist, based on a number of initial selections and this helped her to understand my taste and style. While I loved everything she picked out, I was wowed by one outfit in particular. I was most taken with it because it was something I would never have picked for myself. The opportunity to try new brands and styles is one of Trunk Club’s best features.
The outfit details:
- Top: Gibson x Living in Yellow Betty Lace Trim Camisole in Ivory/Black
- Jacket: Halogen Tie Waist Jacket (currently sold out at Nordstrom.com)
- Pants: Leith High Waist Belted Pants in Purple Rosea
- Shoes: Marc Fisher LTD Zala Pump
When the trunk arrives, it’s like Christmas! You unwrap the clothes, try them on (do a fashion show for whoever happens to be around), and select the items you would like to keep. Unwanted items are simply packed back in the trunk and shipped back via UPS.
While I wanted to keep everything in the trunk, I was mindful of my spending. You can stick to any budget using Trunk Club, as you are only charged for the items you keep. The service also offers clothing from a variety of price points. A $25 styling fee is deducted from the total after you select your items.
For now, I’m using Trunk Club to add some pieces to my work wardrobe, but the service can also be used to boost your wardrobe for special events. Sal and I are traveling to New York City in April to attend an opera at the MET, and I want a show-stopping look for the evening. I’m looking forward to using Trunk Club again to help me choose outfits for my trip.
Love, Love, Love
January was a month filled with LOVE. At the beginning of the month, Sal and I celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary. We first visited The Mansion on Forsyth Park (site of our wedding reception) for a drink. This is something that we do every year, while reflecting on our favorite wedding moments. After, we had a nice dinner out. We typically eat at home, so it’s a treat to eat out on a special occasion.
Mid-month, I traveled home to Michigan to visit with family and some of my oldest and dearest friends. I was only in town for a long weekend, so I packed in lots of love in the short trip. First, I fit in a quick visit to my Aunt Cindy as she recovered from surgery. Next, my Auntie Babs and I enjoyed shopping, lunch, and catching up. My aunt also provided plush accommodations for me, let me borrow her car, and made me a special “mocha” for breakfast, making my stay even more comfortable. Finally, I had dinner with my friend Emily (we met in the sixth grade), where we basically just laughed for a couple of hours without stopping.
The main events of the weekend were the baptism and first birthday for my friend Jaimie’s son. Because of these events, Christina, Jaimie, and I were able to spend a lot of quality time together talking, laughing, eating, playing mafia, and making memories with the newest addition to our group.
Spending time with my old friends is very restorative for me. I can be one hundred percent myself around them and love how they know and understand me completely. I also love how our relationships have grown and changed since high school, especially now that children are being added to the mix.
Rebecca Minkoff Stronger Together Collection
I had to buy this fun Rebecca Minkoff clutch because it reminded me of middle school, where “girl power” was synonymous with The Spice Girls. As I’ve grown up, however, girl power means so much more.
While “girl” can certainly have a pejorative connotation (this typically happens at work, when a male colleague refers to me or other female colleagues as “girls”), Rebecca Minkoff’s design “celebrates the collective power of women,” something I believe is extremely important. My mom always instilled in me the importance of being an independent woman. I am also grateful for the lifelong bonds I fostered through the all-female institutions that molded me into the woman I am today.
I have been particularly moved this year by my experiences with an amazing group of young women I am privileged to teach. These girls (and I use this term with the most admiration and affection) embody what girl power means in the twenty first century. They are self-aware, knowledgeable and opinionated about social issues, unafraid to challenge authority and the status quo, classy, extremely intelligent, and motivated to make the world a better place. So, when I celebrate girl power, I’m not only celebrating my own strength and womanhood, but my hope for the extraordinary lives of the next generation of powerful women.
I realize these are pretty deep thoughts for a clutch. As an English teacher, I can’t help but find deep symbolism in everything.
Trying New Things
I originally envisioned January as a month of trying new things. My mom gave me a journal for Christmas and I intended to write something in it every day. I made it to January 12. Despite this unmet goal, I did try one new thing: a spinning class. Hilary encouraged me to attend because one of our mutual friends was teaching. (You may notice I only try new exercises when I know the teacher.) While I consider myself active and physically fit, spinning was VERY difficult for me.
After the first five minutes my throat was on fire, my legs burned, and I hated everyone in the room. Hilary tried to encourage me during the class, and I think I snarled at her. I don’t like doing things I’m not good at, so spinning definitely humbled me. Once the class ended, my rage died down and I’m actually looking forward to going back.
While I didn’t achieve all my goals this month, I had fun, celebrated with the people I love, and definitively concluded I am NOT ready to be the narrator during a game of mafia.
Note: A HUGE thank you to Lindsey (Christina’s wife and my friend) for capturing many of the sweet photos in this post. You have a heart of gold, girl! <3
Cindy says
What a great month you had in January 2019! I’m so happy I had a chance to see you and catch up! Thanks to your Aunt Barb for driving you over. I hope the rest of the year is terrific. 💕
Nickie says
January was great! I was lucky to be able to see everyone I love during it.