My July 2018 Plus Size Stitch Fix

You guys, as soon as I opened this box I just knew I was going to have my husband take pictures for me... a pastime he absolutely loves, hahaha! There were some pieces in here I would have never picked for myself, but SPOILER ALERT: I kept all 5 pieces! I exchanged 2 pieces for a size up, but seriously wore one of the tops the very day I opened my box and another piece the next day!


{If you aren't familiar with Stitch Fix, they are a company where a stylist sends you five pieces in a box to try on! You fill out a survey about your style, can leave a message about what you're looking for, and the stylist does your shopping! Each box costs a $20 styling fee, but that becomes a credit towards anything you purchase from your box! Returns are easy- each box comes with a pre-paid shipping back to drop off at the post office filled with anything you didn't want to keep! If you use any link in this post, you can try your first box for FREE!}


In this box I got:

• 1 "dress," (I use the term dress very loosely. It was SHORT!)
• 1 tunic
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 tank top
• 1 one shoulder top

Everything was stunning. The colors were exactly up my style alley! Not only did I keep all five items, but I was really excited about all five items! I could picture myself wearing them over, and over, and over again! Summer ends later here in Okinawa! It will be warm through September, possibly into October, so I know I will get some good wear out of these pieces!

The dress. It was about the same length as the tunic they sent me! I made sure to leave feedback that as a dress it was way too short, but that I was keeping it to wear over leggings... and IT HAS POCKETS. I seriously wore it out on errands the very day it came in. It's kind of like a burlap material, but not rough? It's lightweight and so comfortable. I think this picture makes it look longer than it actually is, but I love it with leggings and felt so put together!


The tunic. The tunic was a button down, which if you've been around, you know I don't really care for...AT ALL. My chest always looks so weird in button downs because they pucker, but I really loved this piece! It is fresh, and lightweight, and while I think it's a little long to wear over shorts, I knew it would be great over leggings! I wore this out to a festival we went to! We were outside all dang afternoon, and I was so comfortable in this top! It was so comfortable, and while I don't find it overly flattering, I am so pleased that I kept it!

Awkward chest puckering be damned... I totally dig this top!

The top I held onto I am wearing for date day for my husband's birthday tomorrow! (I'll post a picture on Instagram for sure and probably come back and update this post.) I don't think I would ever walk into a store and pick a one shoulder item. I actually have a one shoulder dress in my closet that was accidentally sent with an order from Lane Bryant, and they told me to just keep. I really love it, but I still wouldn't pick something like that for myself. I was shocked when I picked this top out of the box. The color is STUNNING and absolutely perfect for summertime in Okinawa! Tropical, and lightweight, and so fun!

Man, this box was out of the park a HOME RUN! I love, love, loved every single piece! I sent the tank top and the shorts in for the next size up. I have had to just learn with Stitch Fix that size doesn't matter. I have a few 1x tops but usually wear 2x, I get 3x in dresses, I can wear 22 or 24 in shorts- it's been a great mental exercise in not letting sizes get in my head too much since they range so much piece by piece!

If you have any questions about Stitch Fix, feel free to ask me! I've really enjoyed the experience overall! If you are interested in trying Stitch Fix, feel free to use my referral link to get your first box without investing in the styling fee! If you do, I get a credit towards my next box as well!

Whole30 Round Five, Week Four Shopping and Meal Plan

Today is day TWENTY-TWO! I can't believe I am in the final countdown of this round. This round was hard for me, mentally. I never really got over the sugar dragon cravings and I think breaking those down mentally, for me right now, is just going to be a process of having foods on the "no" list. I've struggled with afternoon scavenging around the kitchen and luckily have been able to ward off mindless mid afternoon snacking, but it seems like every day has been challenging.

If you saw my meal plan last week you know I flew through this week by the seat of my pants. I honestly had no clue what we were going to eat much sooner than I was preparing it. But I got a little grocery shopping done before the typhoon we're currently sitting through and have a solid plan to wrap up my round before moving into reintroduction!

Just a few typhoon necessities!

So, how did things actually go last week? Here ya go:

• MONDAY: we grilled up some Bubba Burgers! I topped mine with Tessemae's BBQ sauce and some caramelized onions! Served alongside a big ol' salad! 
• TUESDAY: I marinated bone in, skin on chicken thighs in Tessemae's BBQ sauce, and baked them up in the oven (at 375 for about 50 minutes). I served them along with some green beans.
• WEDNESDAY: We hit up a burger place on base after a function we attended. I had the usual ol' bunless burger (and after eating at base restaurants several times for lunch this week as well: if I have one more burger I think I'm going to scream!)
• THURSDAY: I had more bone in, skin on chicken thighs so I marinated them in Tessemae's Zesty Ranch and baked them up as well. I served them alongside a big ol' salad!
• FRIDAY: I made up some ranch sliders (inspired by this @kellymcnellis recipe!) earlier in the week for lunch and had the leftovers for dinner!
• SATURDAY: I whipped up some enchilada meat for enchilada potatoes a la Living Loving Paleo's recipe!
• SUNDAY: It was a Just Jessie B day around here! I made up some marinated chicken thighs (I use boneless, skinless chicken thigh strips for this one) and some crispy green beans from her blog! These green beans, guys, TRY THEM!

For part of this week it's just me at home, so it might not go according to this plan, but here's how I'm thinking I will finish out this round of Whole30!

• MONDAY: I have a little of the marinated chicken left from yesterday, so I'll be air frying it up and having that for dinner with a salad!
• TUESDAY: TACO SALAD TUESDAY! I'm just going to make up some taco seasoned beef and have a big ol' taco salad for dinner! 
• WEDNESDAY: It's July 4th, and I don't plan on really doing anything! I've been toying with having some Ishigaki Beef I brought back from my trip, and I think I'm going to grill some up today with salad!
• THURSDAY: Sliders. I think I'll probably make the ranch sliders again. They are just so easy and so dang yummy. Y'all, seriously, try the recipe!
• FRIDAY: most likely, Yakiniku! I love yakiniku and the place we go has never said anything to me about bringing in my own seasoning or dressings for the meats.
• SATURDAY: I'm not sure yet! We'll see what Gene wants to do and we'll maybe go out to eat again Saturday night! If not, I might try my hand at some buffalo chicken bites! 
• SUNDAY: I saw a really good recipe for a Whole30 Mississippi Roast! If I can find compliant peperoncini peppers, it is on! If not, I might try my hand at making a bbq roast that @therealfoodrds shared over on @whole30recipes! 

After this round I'm going to try a little reintroduction before basically going back to Whole30. I just feel my best when following the protocol and I don't know how ready for food freedom I am right now. I'll be able to share all about my reintroduction in the coming weeks! Gene's birthday is kind of in the middle of my reintro and he wants to do Brazilian BBQ for lunch. I am not going to try to figure out how they prepare their meats- that's a little harder here than in the States. So I will use that as a reintro day with a buffer of a few Whole30 days before and after, but it's almost the last day of reintro, so it won't be too bad!

You can follow along on Instagram @cheerstomyhealth to see in real time what I'm making and how things are going!