Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

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Fix Me Up // Trying Stitch Fix a Third Time

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Back in September, I ordered my first Stitch Fix box. It was incredible. I got five amazing mix-and-match pieces perfect for my new job needs (and all for a pretty good price).

A few months later, I placed another order looking for jeans and cold weather clothes. That box missed the mark for me, but through no fault of Stitch Fix (though I did keep a dress). Just to give you an idea, they sent me a pretty grey and ivory blouse that fit great. But it had an elephant pattern and I just don’t like elephants. So the items in that box were off, but not in any way that a stylist could predict.

Flash forward a few months, and I had the urge to try Stitch Fix one more time to fill in my winter wardrobe a bit. After all, you can’t wear the same three sweaters forever (except I have). On top of that, I had a little Stitch Fix credit to burn. Twist my arm already.

Lucky for me, post- holidays Stitch Fix’s delivery schedule opened up quite a bit. In less than four days, I had a box of new clothes waiting for me on my doorstep.

Here’s what was inside:

Looking in the box, I was thrilled. Stitch Fix got me. They got me this time (as compared to almost exactly getting me previously). And as I read the note from the stylist, I knew why: she’d looked at my Pinterest board. Over the past week or two, I spent some time really picking out aspirational images that resonate with me. She did good!

Looking at everything outright, I was so happy. My Pinterest board was full of polished and embellished outfits. All these pieces seemed to fit that bill.

The green smocked shirt was just really pretty and flowy, and while I’m not always a fan of high-necked shirts, this one looked pretty nice on! I also realize that a dressy shirt or two might up my game.

Next was a really great polka dotted sweater. The price was a little steeper than I’d typically pay, but when I showed my mom, she said, “You’ve been looking for decent sweaters all year and you’ve bought none.” So this one turned into a keeper.

Then there was this beautiful star dress. I’ve said it before: I’m not big on bell sleeves. I just think that’s a recipe for disaster as far as them getting dirty or ripping them, but for this dress I made an exception. It is witchy and magical feeling.

The last two pieces I tried on together: a ribbed turtleneck and a plaid pencil skirt. I mean that’s just your standard polish and panache outfit. Shopping on my own, I’d never purchase either of these styles, though I’d eye them up curiously. But that’s what Stitch Fix is about sometimes: pushing your own boundaries. These items were beautiful in theory (and in the box), but unfortunately did not work on me.

In the end, I purchased three of the items in my box. I consider that a pretty good success rate! And, like last time, yes, these items cost a bit more than I’d spend if I saw them at the store. The thing is though, I didn’t see them at the store. And that’s the luxury of this whole service: You get to bypass grueling shopping trips and also get access to items that aren’t always available elsewhere. If that means I pay 15% more for a top than normal, that’s just a surcharge for convenience and uniqueness as far as I’m concerned.

Also, since last time I took zero photos of me in my Stitch Fix garb, I thought I’d throw one in for fun! I’ve worn this dress twice already and I love it. I feel very Stevie Nicks (even if I don’t look it).

As always, if you’re interested in trying Stitch Fix for yourself, tell ’em Lisa sent you.

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Small Goals // February 2018

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Let me say this: January was hard! I mostly felt like wearing my warmest socks, grabbing a good book and curling up in bed. It’s just that cold outside and I’m that far into Wisconsin’s favorite mood: seasonal affective disorder. Seasonal depression aside, let’s count up January’s goals.

  1. Help with a super fun baby shower. Done! A tropical themed shower was a real bright spot in the middle of gloomy January.
  2. Work on some non-embroidery crafts. Done. I made a mess of paper flowers for that shower!
  3. Get odds and ends listed on Etsy. Nope. And I have no good reason!
  4. Make a few soups. Like I said in my original goals post, I’m not a huge soup person. So after my first batch of chicken wild rice soup, I was souped out (although this recipe was really really good). I’ll give myself a half point here.
  5. Get back into good routines. I’m going to give myself half a point on this one, because I only stuck with it for a few weeks. Having the flu throws a wrench in most plans, but especially those that require food and being in public (the gym).

3/5. I’m not too miffed by this. I’m starting to think about January as more of an incubation period than a fresh start. Since it’s so cold, there’s nothing better to do than think about the future and make a few plans.

Which is what I aim to do in February. I had all of January to sit and think, so now it’s time to start planning things and even taking a little action. So here are my goals for this month:

  1. Plan some sort of getaway. Michael and I had originally planned on visiting some friends out west this spring, but unfortunately the stars (and schedules) didn’t align. Making our way out to SLC is postponed, and I’m super disappointed. I’m thinking if I can plan a small, affordable trip (even just day trips) for the near future, that might help me feel a bit better about this indefinite delay.
  2. Declutter our bedroom and/or den. These two spaces in our home are the most clutter-prone by far. The den is where I prep all my embroidery projects, so 90% of the time the ironing board is out and fabric is spilling onto the floor. Our bedroom is also chronically cluttered with clothes. I’m hoping to get one of these spaces cleaned up so our home can feel a bit more zen.
  3. Sign up for another fix from Stitch Fix. My first box was amazing, the second was not. But I’ve got $25 in credit that I may as well use to get me through these winter doldrums.
  4. Make a mood board for a bathroom revamp. Our bathroom needs repairs and updating pretty badly. It’s still 1962 in there (but not in the fun way). Last year at this time I bought a ton of pretty bathroom stuff plus a new vanity to get going on the project. Unfortunately, it was a bigger undertaking that I initially thought so it got put on the back burner while we got our basement in order. I think after a year, this project needs to get some liftoff.
  5. Get into a cooking routine that works. I cook most evenings when Michael is home. This semester, though, he’s got evening classes four nights a week, meaning that regular routine is about to be obsolete. I need to start thinking of ways I can prep easy-to-reheat meals so we can eat on our different schedules.

Well, that’s it for me in February! I’ve got some serious goals, but I’ve got a few fun things peppered in my calendar to break it all up (brunches, book clubs and everything #basic). What do you have going this month?

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From Fool to Problem Solver // Reflecting on 2017

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I already kicked off 2018 with my new Small Goals post, but I realized I put the cart before the horse a little bit – 2017 is over but it deserves a recap. So here’s my obligatory blogger recap of 2017. Cheers!

• • •

OK, let’s start at the start. When 2017 started, collectively we weren’t in a good place. Donald Trump somehow became president. Every one I knew was in a constant state of stress and panic. The whole situation had me feeling tense and garbage-y every day. Of course Donald Trump is still president, but I’m coping slightly better with this.

But on a personal level, 2017 didn’t start off so hot either. I was working at a job that was, well, not a great fit for me. I’d go to bed thinking I don’t want to go to work tomorrow and I’d wake up thinking OMG I definitely do not want to go to work today. And I realized after working a lot of jobs that once that feeling sets in, it’s really hard to shake it.

There were other things, of course. My family had gone though a major upheaval in 2016 (and those effects were still lingering at the beginning of 2017). I realized that never working out was a bad idea. I knew that my house had some serious foundation issues. I was feeling creatively restless. Overall, I was really frustrated with my situation.

Bearing all this in mind, I realized that I had to rely on myself to make some changes. This is a really difficult thing to do – to just generally change up miserable situations – but my parents (especially my mom) raised me to be a problem solver. I saw some major problems in my life and I had to find a way to fix them. Cue this gif:

via GIPHY

But you know the saying, Rome wasn’t built in a day. I wasn’t suddenly going to find a new job, become creatively fulfilled, have a structurally sound home, a perfect family and a buff bod overnight.

But I could work on making myself happier. So I started small by treating myself to something I knew would give me some satisfaction: I took a tarot class. I wrote about it here, and it really shaped my entire year. Truly. The card I drew that night, the Fool, symbolizes new starts though sometimes in unknown directions. I placed a lot of faith in that card – that my new direction (hopefully a creative one!) would become apparent – and I tried to remain patient as that path became more obvious.

Days later, the Universe served up something amazing: a call for artists for a tarot-themed art show in Madison. Like I said in the post at the time, holy shit. Except now I mean it ten times more because that show gave me the kick in the pants I needed to get serious about embroidery.

I spent 40 hours making my card for the show. And hot off that finger-numbing exercise, I opened up Kaminski Handicraft. This is a jewel in the crown for 2017 because it is a dream long postponed, and finally come to life. By the end of the year, I beat my personal sales goal for the year! I made 22 online sales and almost as many IRL.

For most of the spring and summer, Kaminski Handicraft pulled me through. Embroidery gave me something to think about while I was at work (and something to do over lunch hour), it was something to tide me over when I was really disappointed with where I was at. However, even with embroidery to occupy my mind, I was in a bad space. I desperately started searching. I felt like Charlie Kelly.

via GIPHY

One evening while at dinner with a friend, I was discussing job prospects. I had zero at the time, but mentioned a position I applied for months prior that still looked to be unfilled. As fate would have it, one of her good friends worked for the company. She said that she’d get in contact with her and give her my name. By the next day, Taste of Home contacted me for an interview. A few weeks after that, I got offered the job. I cried.

Besides these two major accomplishments/problem solves for the year, I accomplished a lot of other tasks. I participated in the Women’s March with my friend Kellie, I signed up with a gym and started weight lifting classes (I know!), I got married to Michael again, we got our basement fixed, I tried some adventurous bakes at home (and for Taste of Home), I participated in my first-ever craft fair and I blogged here more than ever (35 times to be exact!).

• • •

I don’t write this to brag or to be overly proud. I write this because 12 months ago, I was the Fool. I had no idea where I was going, no idea what to do, but with a little problem solving, hard work and help from the Universe, I managed to reset my course.

I sincerely wish you all a healthy, happy and satisfying 2018. Hoping it’s even better than 2017!

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The Hermit // A Holiday 2017 Recap

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This past year, I made it a goal of mine to learn more about tarot. While I didn’t practice with my deck as much as I planned, I definitely made some headway in immersing myself a little more fully in the cards’ meanings and just general metaphysical culture.

One of my greatest (and most helpful finds) of the year was the podcast Tarot for the Wild Soul. I tap into this podcast at the beginning of each month to help me meditate on a few themes for the coming weeks. In December the host, Lindsay Mack, made mention of the Hermit card and how it would come into play throughout the month.

When I first gave this a listen, I was wary of that card. Not because the Hermit is bad in anyway, but it represents solitude or a need to turn inward. And at that time, I was envisioning a fun and boisterous holiday with lots of parties and craft nights, not some quiet, introverted season.

But I found out really quickly in December that pushing myself too hard and forcing myself to do too much was putting me in a really bad space mentally. So from that point forward, I gave myself permission to take the space I needed.

Of course there were still busy days, like working my first craft fair(!) and hosting our annual Christmas party (where most of these great snaps are from!), but days without events were quiet and relaxing. I spent my days at work, pushing through end-of-year projects, and at night I watched Christmas movies and did a little crafting.

But the embodiment of this Hermit holiday really came once Christmas Day came to a close. Every Christmas evening, we head back to our house early and open gifts together under the tree. Some years, ducking out of the party is hard to do, but this year it wasn’t so difficult to tear ourselves away. We got home around 8:30, changed into pajamas and gave one another (and the cats) gifts. It gave us a chance to enjoy each other’s company and all the really magical Christmas feelings.

I carried this Hermit vibe into the rest of the week as well. For the first time since college, I got a winter break! My employer shuts up its offices between Christmas and New Year and being home those extra days was a huge huge treat. Typically I’d be tempted to fill those bonus days with lots of activities and long to-do lists, but instead Michael and I settled into a nice routine of naps, Netflix and snacks. And by not switching into work or do mode right away, we helped stretch the holiday spirit out a little longer (but maybe it was all the Christmas Bob’s Burgers episodes we watched).

Now, work is back in session and I have to emerge from my Hermit hideout, but season filled with solitude, quiet and relaxation did me a world of good, and I’m ready to take on 2018!

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Small Goals // January 2018

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This post really crept on me! I had been enjoying a little Christmas break free from responsibilities and blogging (it was heaven!). But before we get into 2018, let’s see how I did the last month of 2017.

  1. Make it through my first craft fair.  Done! I have a recap of this planned for any interested parties.
  2. Make time for Christmas crafts I love. Not so much. After doing the whole craft fair thing, I was mostly just in the mood to chill out. And I’m OK with that!
  3. Get baking. Done. While I didn’t bake as much as I planned, I still knocked out a few cookies, a pie and a few apps.
  4. Watch 3+ Christmas movies. Done. Home Alone, White Christmas, Christmas in Connecticut and How the Grinch Stole Christmas all helped me feel that holiday spirit.
  5. Get rid of a bag of clothes/books/miscellany every week. Check! Instead of purging a bag per week, I did one large drop-off at my local Goodwill, which definitely equated to about four bags worth. Plus, I passed my large light table onto a friend.

4/5. December was super stressful, so I’m happy with four goals down.

Now onto 2018. I’m not a huge New Year’s resolution person. And honestly, after pushing so hard to get through the holidays, I feel like I need a little break (even though I have a few projects planned). Here’s what I’m thinking for January.

  1. Help with a super fun baby shower. A family friend is having a little girl this year! I’m helping her mom with some of the decorations for this tropical-themed shower and I’m excited to work on these party projects!
  2. Work on some non-embroidery crafts. During my holiday break, I pretty much just binged a bunch of British TV on Netflix. But I found myself wanting to be a little productive too. On my last day of vacation I picked up an old cross stitch and had a lot of fun. So more of that!
  3. Get odds and ends listed on Etsy. I made a lot of inventory for the Crafty Fair, and a lot of that inventory included new designs. It’s time to get those on Etsy!
  4. Make a few soups. It’s been super cold in Milwaukee lately (like 0ºF cold!). While I’m not typically a soup gal, I’ve had a craving for some good warming dishes.
  5. Get back into good routines. When it comes to routines, I give myself a pass during the holidays – it’s just too hectic. But now with an open schedule, it’s time for regular grocery shopping, weekly dinners with my mom and more classes at the gym.

Well, that’s it for me! What are you planning for 2018?

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Jingle Like a Kringle // My Favorite Christmas Albums

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When it comes to playing the best Christmas jams, I consider myself an expert. I’m all in on nostalgic songs like “White Christmas,” but I also know a good new calol when I hear one, like Sia’s latest “Santa’s Coming for Us” (which I love). New or old, I think I have the best Christmas playlist around. Here are some of my favorite albums.

Christmas Party by She & Him

A DIY blogger who wishes she looked good with bangs is a She & Him fan? Shocking. The duo’s second Christmas album is an absolute must for the holidays (I could take or leave their first holiday effort) whether you watch New Girl or not. This LP is packed with fun and less common Christmas tracks. “Must Be Santa” is probably my favorite for it’s polka style, but “The Coldest Night of the Year” makes me want to curl up by the fire. Overall, it’s heartwarming and fun like the holiday itself.

It’s a Holiday Soul Party by Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

I have a feeling that this album will one day be considered a classic. It’s filled with holiday soul as the name implies and I love the arrangements on some of the traditional Christmas tunes like “Funky Little Drummer Boy.” It’s just such a good, good album, though it saddens me that Jones isn’t around to spread a little more cheer and funky vibes.

A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector by The Crystals, The Ronettes, Darlene Love and more

Phil Spector aside, this is the best Christmas album you can get your hands on. The tracks are quintessential Christmas. I mean, who doesn’t love Darlene Love’s “Baby, Please Come Home?” I’m going to say it: “Baby, Please Come Home” is the best Christmas song. Yes, better than Mariah’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

The Beach Boys Christmas Album by The Beach Boys

My husband is likely the biggest Beach Boys fans around, so it stands to reason that this album gets it’s fair share of air time at our house. It’s filled with hits like “Little Saint Nick,” but also a few moody tracks like “Blue Christmas” and “We Three Kings.” I’m partial to the latter – it’s probably the spookiest Christmas song out there.

Honorable Mention: It’s My Favorite Time of Year by Phase II

Back in 1997, Boston Store (and it’s sister store Carson Pirie Scott) sold Christmas CDs at their registers. I know what you’re thinking: those generic store-branded albums are trash. And you’d be right, except for this one. My mom impulse bought this CD 20 years ago and it’s been on a regular holiday rotation since. I don’t know what it is about this CD, but it feels like home.

• • •

If you have any Christmas music recommendations, I’d love to hear them! I love expanding this part of my music collection.

 

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Holiday Burnout Strikes Early // How to Make It Through

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I was about to write a post all about balance during the holiday season and how I was getting so much better at juggling all the cheer along with the stress, and how you too could follow my simple strategies to become head elf. But then I made it a whopping six days into December and had a Christmastime meltdown. So I’m obviously no expert.

Instead of giving you tips on how to plan your month, I’m going to give you one piece of advice that I should have been heeding this whole time: check in with yourself.

Check in with how you’re feeling about the month ahead, the plans you’d like to make and what you’ve got to accomplish. And, most importantly, keep checking in with yourself to make sure that you’re not on the fast track to holiday burnout just so you can complete your Christmas bucket list.

And that’s where I was on December 6, having a serious bout of anxiety over a can of poppy seed pie filling. My moment of near-tears was not about poppy seeds, of course, but just my holiday stress coming to a head. I was behind on my stitching goals, I had a kitchen to clean and I had to make and photograph potica for work – a recipe that I’ve made before, but was incredibly nervous about sharing. It was just a lot.

So when I came home, I asked myself what I needed to bring myself back. It wasn’t stopping at another grocery store for poppy seeds. It wasn’t sitting down and stitching. Instead, I gave myself permission to just have a lazy night. I put on some pajamas, wrapped a few presents and watched some Food Network. And that’s what I needed – just a short break so I could regroup and come back refreshed the next morning.

So, take it from me, the girl crying in a Piggly Wiggly, that taking some time to figure out what you need personally (not just what you need to accomplish), is absolutely necessary for making it through the holidays. Whether it’s more plans with friends or more cozy days in, be sure to to take the kind of time you need to feel your merriest and brightest.

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Small Goals // December 2017

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I’m back with some new goals for this month (lots of holiday-related goals to come!), but first let’s see how I did in November.

  1. Finish half my Christmas shopping. Check! I checked a few people off my list, and I feel really good to have that weight off my shoulders as I go into December.
  2. Have a cozy Black Friday in. Check? Well, I didn’t leave the house if that makes it cozy. I did spend a lot of the day deep cleaning before we put up Christmas decorations, though.
  3. Unplug a bit. Done. November 1, I said goodbye to Facebook on my phone and set up some do not disturb times. I’m not sure if it was a drastic change, but that’s OK! Experimenting with this was a good idea.
  4. (Lightly) rebrand Kaminski Handicraft. I’m going to check this one off my list. I updated the colors used in my Etsy header and that’s about all I’ve got time for at the moment. I’ll be calling in a favor from a designer friend come the new year.
  5. Make 5+ new designs for Kaminski Handicraft. Done! I haven’t really kept up with exact numbers, but I’ve made some serious progress.

5/5. November went by fast, so I’m thrilled that I kept on track with these goals! For this coming month I’ll be focusing a lot on crafting and the holidays – ’tis the season!

  1. Make it through my first craft fair. I’ll be at the Mini Crafty Fair Saturday, December 16 in Madison. It’s my first one ever! Let’s see if I can get enough inventory piled up, create a half decent display and not feel entirely overwhelmed!
  2. Make time for Christmas crafts I love. Kaminski Handicraft is closing up for the holidays about mid-month. This is to give myself a little time to relax and enjoy sillier seasonal crafts, like these plastic canvas houses.
  3. Get baking. I love making Christmas cookies. It’s seriously one of my greatest joys to take a day off from work and bake all day around the holidays. I might have to adjust my normal baking lineup, though, so we don’t end up eating cookies until February. That or loosen up my (almost) no cookies before Christmas policy.
  4. Watch 3+ Christmas movies. I just watched The Holiday for the first time last week and now I’m craving all the Christmas movies. I’ve made a short list of new-to-me flicks to check out, like Christmas in Connecticut and Home Alone (I KNOW!) and some time-tested classics like White Christmas.
  5. Get rid of a bag of clothes/books/miscellany every week. I’ve been trying to cut down on stuff lately just to make my home feel a little less congested and cluttered (not that it’s bad, but you know).

Got any small goals for December? I’d love to hear about them!

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Small Goals // November 2017

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I’m back with another month of goals! Let’s see how I did on my October ones first.

  1. Create a great couple’s costume. Check. I’d say our Bonnie and Clyde turned out pretty good.
  2. Check out Old World Wisconsin’s Legends & Lore. Nope. In my defense, it was exceptionally cold last weekend. Plus Stranger Things just came out. (I’m the worst.)
  3. Make three (or more) apple recipes. Not even one! The month got away from me kitchen-wise. Good thing apples keep a long time.
  4. Anything tarot. Stop trying to make tarot happen, Lisa. It’s not gonna happen.
  5. Scary stuff. Done! I’ve been listening to Lore and Welcome to Night Vale, and watching Unsolved Mysteries, Salem and Murder Maps all month long.

2/5. Not my best month, but that’s OK. Not every Halloween can be the spookiest.

  1. Finish half my Christmas shopping. I cannot deal with the stress of last-minute shopping. I can hardly deal with the stress of on-pace shopping. My goal this year is to have half my gifts purchased before December rolls around so I can maximize my baking and crafting time closer to Christmas.
  2. Have a cozy Black Friday in. Last year, for the first time in my adult life, I had the day after Thanksgiving off of work. To really celebrate the day, I spent a good portion of it in my jammies and then I made Michael take me to see Fantastic Beasts. I feel part two coming on this year.
  3. Unplug a bit. I do not need to look at Facebook on my phone multiple times a day. I do not need to keep up with every Snapchat. I do not need to answer every text immediately. To separate myself from technology a bit (not entirely, though – I love this blog, I love my job and I love Etsy) I’m going to take a step back, remove Facebook from my phone and get comfortable with not having it nearby all the time.
  4. (Lightly) rebrand Kaminski Handicraft. I’ve got something up my sleeve for next month, so I think a very light rebrand for my Etsy page and business cards is in order.
  5. Make 5+ new designs for Kaminski Handicraft. Ambitious! If you have any good ideas for hoops you want to see, I’m all ears!

That’s it for me this month, and seriously, folks, if you have any ideas, send them my way!

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The Story of Bonnie and Clyde

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Prior to last year, couples’ costumes weren’t really Michael’s and my thing. Halloween was our thing, costumes in general were our thing, but never coordinating looks. But now we’re going hard into the couple thing, dressing up as some of the most famous duos ever. Last year we were Scully and Mulder, this year we donned our best Bonnie and Clyde getups.

This idea, while not exactly original, came via my gangster history-loving dad. Immediately he recommended the 1967 movie for research. Michael and I watched it dutifully. And we followed it up watching the made-for-TV version that came out in 2013. I think our costumes borrow a little more heavily from the latter, not that it really matters since neither rendition was historically accurate (OK, OK, I like gangster history, too).

At any rate, I’m pretty happy with how things turned out! I say the hats really do the heavy lifting for us with these outfits, and that’s fine by me – I love a good beret.