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As some of you may know, my sister Kathy and I have a friendly competition every year to see who can read more books. We track our progress on Goodreads (feel free to add me as a friend there if you haven’t already).
In 2019, I read 68 books (25,087 pages!).
I am pretty stingy with my star ratings on Goodreads (I only gave 10% of the books I read a full 5-star rating), so here’s the short list of books that I gave 5/5 stars this year:
As you can see, Kathy got me started on The Expanse series, which I highly recommend. Even though my two favorites fall in the middle of the series, all of the books are pretty good. The final book is coming out later this year, so it would be a great time to get started on this series.
What were your favorite books you read in 2019? I have plenty of digital holds on Kindle books at the DC library, but I can always add a few more!
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This post has been sitting in draft state for, no joke, almost a year. A lot has gone down in that year.
To recap: I signed up for the 2018 Marine Corps Marathon. Shortly after, I began seeking treatment and diagnosis of a back injury that was bothering me somewhat intermittently. It started around the same time I started my new job at the University of Maryland, so I was willing to blame the transition between working at home and working in the office. I went through 3 desk chairs and finally a standing desk at work. In the meantime, I saw a chiropractor and, when that didn’t seem to help, I went to see my physical therapist (who I can’t say enough good things about).
With the help of my physical therapist, I made it through the 2018 roller derby season, capping off my derby career at the North America East Continental Cup in Kalamazoo, MI. My husband made the trip with me, and some of my family and friends from the midwest came to see me play. It was a great way to go out. I retired with the intentions of focusing on my graduate school courses and hoped to continue skating on a recreational level as time allowed.
A few weeks after the derby season ended, I hurt myself lifting at the gym. My back was feeling really great after 2.5 months of PT, so I decided to do the exercise I noticed bothered it in the first place to see if it still bothered me — back squats. I didn’t even move that much weight (95 lbs, which would have been a warmup set for me in the past). I did two sets of 10 at the beginning of my workout and then did other things. Everything seemed okay at the time.
Immediately after completing the workout, I was walking across campus to my office and already starting to regret the weighted squats. My back was getting very sore already. It felt like DOMS at first, except it set in WAY fast, and the pain continued to get worse for about two days. Ibuprofen didn’t help. Stretching didn’t help. My PT exercises didn’t help. Moving around was uncomfortable, but so was sitting down and laying down. This culminated in me coming home from work one night and laying on the living room floor in agony. Corner asked if we should go to the emergency room. I was in so much pain I couldn’t imagine being so uncomfortable anywhere but my own home. Plus, I already suspected the pain was not muscular, so I wasn’t convinced there was anything they could actually do to help me, short of giving me some crazy pain medication that I wasn’t sure would resolve the actual problem. So I stayed home.
A few days after the ill-fated workout, I saw my physical therapist, who recommended I also seek out an orthopedist. She recommended a guy and I made an appointment. Of course, it took a few weeks to get in and during this time my nerve pain (because I know that’s what it was now) started to subside. In October, I finally got an MRI and discovered that I have two herniated discs (L4-L5 and L5-S1; the two most commonly herniated ones). And not a little herniated….a lot herniated. The ortho says the damage was probably cumulative (so not from one specific incident), but there’s no way to really know.
I was told no more roller derby (good thing I had just “retired”) and no yoga and no spin class, but I was allowed to run as long as it didn’t hurt. Running was never the thing that seemed to make it flare up, so I continued sporadic short runs (3-4 miles, never on back-to-back days) and going to the gym to do upper body and very basic bodyweight workouts.
At some point during all this, I deferred my Marine Corps Marathon registration from 2018 to 2019. I was bummed but knew I would be better suited for marathon training 12 months down the road.
It was a pretty boring couple of months, if I’m being honest. Luckily the holidays and my grad school courses kept me fairly busy.
I was released from PT just before Thanksgiving. Eventually the ortho cleared me for more activities, but yoga still makes my back stiff and crabby afterwards so I am continuing to avoid it for now. And I’m still not allowed to play roller derby. While I had no plans to skate competitively this season, I did want to drop in occasionally to scrimmage and, you know, see my friends.
I started running longer distances again knowing that I am running the Rival Run Challenge at Disney World in April. I also joined OrangeTheory Fitness in February when they opened a location in College Park (it’s a 5-minute walk from work!). It’s great cross-training and I don’t have to plan the workouts myself. I just modify parts of the floor workout if it involves movements that irritate my lower back. Love it!!!
On Saturday I ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll DC half marathon. It was my first half marathon in over a year (my last half was the 2018 Disney Princess Half Marathon last February!). I even managed to snag a PR — 1:57:09. Almost 6 minutes faster than my last half! And my back didn’t hurt afterwards (only my legs, hahaha)!
Ignore my salty face. 
I also got my medal engraved for the first time ever! tldr; I’m back to distance running and planning to run my first marathon in the fall. Pending my followup MRI later this week, I hope to be back on skates soon, too.
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This week we tried a new recipe courtesy of one of my favorite cooking blogs, Budget Bytes. The temps are finally falling and I have been craving comfort foods lately. Pasta to the rescue!
This recipe *did* taste like homemade Hamburger Helper. (For those of you who enjoy reading about my misadventures in the kitchen, did you know that I was once unaware that you had to add your own ground beef to Hamburger Helper? Yep, I thought it came with dehydrated meat in it or something.)
Spoiler: the secret ingredient in this recipe is hot dog relish. Strangely enough, we already had a small jar of it in our refrigerator. I do NOT like relish on my hot dogs, so I have NO idea why we had it floating around. It tastes good in this recipe though!
We doubled the original recipe because it was easier to buy and use a full box of pasta noodles, one pound of ground beef, etc. Doubling the recipe resulted in a ton of food though, so we froze a few portions for later.
Here’s a picture of my skillet cheeseburger pasta (actually, this was Corner’s bowl because I had already started eating mine before I remembered I wanted to take a photo):
I’m off to find a hot beverage. Happy November!
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It’s finally feeling like fall here in DC. With the transition to cooler weather comes my transition to cooking more meals in our crockpot. Something about crockpot cooking just feels so warm and cozy, plus I love the way my house smells like delicious food for hours as all the ingredients heat up.
Here’s a crockpot recipe I’ve been loving this month, which happens to combine my love of crockpot cooking and my love of all things pumpkin:
I’m a big fan of dump-and-go crockpot recipes. This particular recipe involves a tiny bit more prep (you have to chop the onion and sweet potatoes and brown the ground meat), but otherwise it’s quite easy.
Here’s a picture of mine all plated up:
I like to stir a little bit of sour cream into this chili after I’ve dished it out. Not only does it add a nice creaminess to the chili, but it helps cool it down a bit when it’s still piping hot from the crockpot. I’ve also been experimenting with adding some red kidney beans into the mix…for some reason chili is just not complete for me without beans.
This recipe does make quite a bit of food for two people, so plan to have a lot of leftovers for lunch/dinner later in the week.
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My latest Stitch Fix box arrived the day before my birthday last week. Woohoo birthday fix! It’s been awhile since my last fix in October (and it was pretty decent), so I was excited to see what my stylist chose to send me this time around.
For those unfamiliar with Stitch Fix, it is an online personal styling service. When you sign up, you fill out a detailed profile about your sizing, cost, and style preferences. For $20, your stylist selects 5 items to send to you. If you like them, you can purchase the items. Your $20 styling fee can be applied towards the cost of the items you buy. You can keep all, none, or some of the items (if you purchase all 5 items, you get 25% off your order). You don’t have to commit to a monthly subscription — you can schedule one-off boxes whenever you feel like it! I have also found that curating my style Pinterest board has really helped guide my stylists towards what I like.
For this fix, I asked my stylist for travel-friendly items to refresh my summer wardrobe. I also specifically requested no shoes (I’m particular about my shoes and perfectly capable of picking them out on my own).
Here’s what was in the box:
Stylecard for fix #14 Liverpool Reed Distressed Bermuda Denim Short
Liverpool Reed Distressed Bermuda Denim Short (front) 
Liverpool Reed Distressed Bermuda Denim Short (back) StitchFix always knocks it out of the park for me on bottoms. These shorts are no exception. I love the dark denim wash. They are distressed but not *too* distressed, and the fabric is not too thick, making them perfect for humid DC summers. I was a little wary of the length, thinking they might be a little too long on me, but they are comfortable and I actually don’t have any plain blue denim shorts in my closet at the moment (!) so I decided to keep them.
Verdict: KeepBrixon Ivy Jarred Lace Detail Cap-Sleeve Blouse
Brixon Ivy Jarred Lace Detail Cap-Sleeve Blouse (front) 
Brixon Ivy Jarred Lace Detail Cap-Sleeve Blouse (back) This is definitely the WTF item of this fix, and you know what? It’s not bad. The color is great and I don’t hate the lace. I like that I can wear a regular bra with it and it’s mostly obscured by the lace. It’s also not too blousey like a lot of the workwear Stitch Fix tops seem to be (most of them are boxy and not flattering on me). It’s definitely outside of my comfort zone but I’m willing to take a chance on this top!
Verdict: KeepColette Chavez Pop Color Cuff Knit Top
Colette Chavez Pop Color Cuff Knit Top (front) 
Colette Chavez Pop Color Cuff Knit Top (back) I liked this top when I tried it on, though after reviewing the photographs I decided it is a little too long and baggy on me. However, the fabric is sooooooo soft and I LOVE the stripes with the pop of lime green at the cuffs! Luckily, Stitch Fix now offers exchanges so I exchanged it for the next size down. The smaller size arrived within a few days and it looks great. I’m too lazy to take new pics though.
Verdict: KeepGilli Mitchel Knit Maxi Dress
Gilli Mitchel Knit Maxi Dress (front) 
Gilli Mitchel Knit Maxi Dress (back) I love everything about this maxi dress! The way it’s cut makes it feel dressier than the typical maxi. I love the print and how soft the fabric is. The left side panel of my dress had a blemish in the fabric, so I exchanged it and got a replacement dress in the same size. I’m probably going to hem it an inch or two, but otherwise it’s perfect.
Verdict: KeepOctavia London Mixed Material Satchel
Octavia London Mixed Material Satchel 
Octavia London Mixed Material Satchel I don’t love this bag, but since I loved all of the clothes it makes sense for me to keep the purse and thus the discount. The bag is way bigger than my usual purses and doesn’t have a lot of inside organization. I do like the mixed materials, but unfortunately I don’t think I will get much use out of it. I will probably sell it on one of the Stitch Fix Facebook groups.
Verdict: SellKeep: 4
Sell: 1
Return: 0My stylist did a great job with this fix. I’m starting to think that being less specific with my requests is the way to go!
P.S. Corner has been getting fixes (yes, they style men now!) but I have yet to convince him to let me take pictures of him modeling his items. Maybe next time!
If this post was helpful and piqued your interest about Stitch Fix, please consider using my referral link to sign up!
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My latest Stitch Fix box arrived the same day I arrived home from my latest trip to NYC. It’s been awhile since my last fix (and it was a bit of a flop), so I was excited to see what my stylist chose to send me this time around.
For those unfamiliar with Stitch Fix, it is an online personal styling service. When you sign up, you fill out a detailed profile about your sizing, cost, and style preferences. For $20, your stylist selects 5 items to send to you. If you like them, you can purchase the items. Your $20 styling fee can be applied towards the cost of the items you buy. You can keep all, none, or some of the items (if you purchase all 5 items, you get 25% off your order). You don’t have to commit to a monthly subscription — you can schedule one-off boxes whenever you feel like it! I have also found that curating my style Pinterest board has really helped guide my stylists towards what I like.
For this fix, I asked my stylist for new denim and dresses for fall. I mentioned I am traveling a lot over the next couple months so versatility is a must. I included a note that if any sweaters are sent, they should NOT contain wool, and I also specifically requested no shoes.
Here’s what was in the box:
Stylecard for fix #13 RD Style Jana Poncho Pullover
RD Style Jana Poncho Pullover (front) 
RD Style Jana Poncho Pullover (side) 
RD Style Jana Poncho Pullover (back) Despite indicating on my StitchFix profile that I am allergic to wool, past stylists have sent me wool. Maybe they don’t know that cashmere is still wool? I digress. Anyway, the stylist for this fix did a good job picking out this sweater with zero wool content. However, I am a bit torn on the style of this dark grey poncho sweater. Does it hide my shape too much? I’m also not sure if I like the open sides, but I see how it could be comfy and cozy for traveling. Corner really likes it, so I’m going to keep it and give it a shot. Verdict: Keep
Berry Jewelry Piper Double Disc Pendant
Berry Jewelry Piper Double Disc Pendant I always forget to take close-up pictures whenever jewelry is included in my fix, so you should be impressed that I remembered to take this one. I recently updated my style profile to indicate that I wear mostly silver-toned jewelry so I’m happy to see that my stylist acknowledged this new preference. This necklace is nothing special but I see how you could pair it with a lot of outfits. For the pricepoint I am pretty “meh” about it but since I’m keeping so many other items from this fix the necklace will not really cost me anything extra, so I’m going to keep it. Verdict: Keep
41Hawthorn Gideon Polka Dot Sweater
41Hawthorn Gideon Polka Dot Sweater (front) 
41Hawthorn Gideon Polka Dot Sweater (back)
Again, my stylist managed to successfully avoid sending me wool. This 100% cotton sweater is awesome. I dig the polka dots and the extra length. It’s soft and I can see myself reaching for it a lot this fall! Verdict: KeepSkies are Blue Bryleigh Faux Suede Detail Dress
Skies are Blue Bryleigh Faux Suede Detail Dress (front) 
Skies are Blue Bryleigh Faux Suede Detail Dress (back) Definitely the WTF item of this fix. I am not a big fan of elastic waistbands, and the faux suede portion of this dress is strange. I do like the fabric (it’s nice and soft!) and the way the sleeves roll up. I’m not digging the embroidered detailing around the neckline. I also have a feeling the neckline won’t lay right for very long. Worst of all, I found that the dress rides up if I bend over at all. This one would have gone straight back to StitchFix had I not found a buyer on a StitchFix Facebook group. Verdict: Sold
Edyson Soho Skinny Jean
Edyson Soho Skinny Jean (front) 
Edyson Soho Skinny Jean (back)
StitchFix has never sent me a pair of pants I didn’t like, and these jeans are no exception. I love the fit and the wash. The fabric of these is soft and a bit velvet-y; I’m sure it will attract Nigel hair but nothing a good lint rolling can’t fix. Since I needed to add another pair of skinny jeans to my fall wardrobe anyway, I will definitely be keeping these. Verdict: KeepKeep: 4
Sold to Others: 1
Return: 0My stylist did a great job with the sweaters she picked out for me even though I didn’t specifically request any. Hooray for listening to my notes and not sending any wool! I am determined to get a 5/5 fix one of these days (without needing to sell the item or items I don’t like!).
If this post was helpful and piqued your interest about Stitch Fix, please consider using my referral link to sign up!
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My latest Stitch Fix box arrived just in time for the holiday weekend! For some reason, Stitch Fix waived my styling fee this time around so I literally had nothing to lose by receiving this particular fix.
For those unfamiliar with Stitch Fix, it is an online personal styling service. When you sign up, you fill out a detailed profile about your sizing, cost, and style preferences. For $20, your stylist selects 5 items to send to you. If you like them, you can purchase the items. Your $20 styling fee can be applied towards the cost of the items you buy. You can keep all, none, or some of the items (if you purchase all 5 items, you get 25% off your order). You don’t have to commit to a monthly subscription — you can schedule one-off boxes whenever you feel like it! I have also found that curating my style Pinterest board has really helped guide my stylists towards what I like.
For this fix, I asked my stylist for summer dresses and tops that could be worn for traveling or to happy hour.
Here’s what was in the box:
Stylecard for fix #12 Maggy London Valencia Knit Dress
Maggy London Valencia Knit Dress (front) 
Maggy London Valencia Knit Dress (back) This dress is so comfortable (the lining is really nice!) and I love the silhouette. I am a bit torn on the print; I’m not sure if I like the cream color at the top portion of the bodice. A few derby friends suggested it would be better with a cardigan, so I took some photos of me wearing blue and white cardigan sweaters over the dress. It’s interesting how the different colored cardigans pick up different colors from the print.
Maggy London Valencia Knit Dress (with white cardigan) 
Maggy London Valencia Knit Dress (with blue cardigan) Anyway, was torn on the dress because it is nice, but at $118, it’s also the most expensive item in the fix. I tried to get Stitch Fix to do a price match, but was informed the dress I found on Zappos is not the same length. I’m sending it back since it is pricey and I don’t have an imminent need for a dress like this (as in I think it’s more officewear than everyday fashion).
Verdict: Return
Renee C Addae Knit Dress
Renee C Addae Knit Dress (front) 
Renee C Addae Knit Dress (back) If I thought the lining of the first dress was soft, this lining is even softer. Wearing this dress feels like I am wearing a t-shirt! Also, I am a sucker for black and white prints, and this one is really different (I dig it). However, the elastic waistband is really tight and I could see it cutting into me in an annoying fashion. Also, I was disappointed there were no pockets (the fabric and cut could have easily accommodated them if you ask me!) and the fabric is a little thick for humid DC summers. Probably more appropriate for fall.
Verdict: Return
Pixley Nelda Halter Blouse
Pixley Nelda Halter Blouse (front) 
Pixley Nelda Halter Blouse (back) I am always pretty “meh” on the tops that StitchFix sends me. This one is no exception. I could take or leave the print. The neckline is interesting, but it would drive me crazy because I was constantly adjusting it, even just while trying it on. The absolute dealbreaker for me is that I own ZERO bras that would work with this top due to the low-cut armpits (eliminating strapless as an option) and the strange rounded halter neckline. I’m not into going braless, so this one is getting sent back.
Verdict: Return
Pixley Tarcil Mesh Detail Blouse
Pixley Tarcil Mesh Detail Blouse (front) 
Pixley Tarcil Mesh Detail Blouse (back) In my experience, there is always one WTF item in every fix, and this is the WTF item for fix #12. (Although I admit the top photographed much better than expected.) I like the blue color, and I do like the how this top looks from the back, but the mesh detail panel in the front just looks strange to me. It is also impossible to wear a bra with this top (the top hangs too low in the armpits to even make a strapless bra work). It might look cute under a blazer, but I don’t wear blazers. The left spaghetti strap was also very hard to adjust for some reason. Maybe just a manufacturer defect, but this top is going back nonetheless.
Verdict: Return
DV8 Abbey D’Orsay Flats
DV8 Abbey D’Orsay Flats 
DV8 Abbey D’Orsay Flats (paired with Renee C Addae Knit Dress) 
DV8 Abbey D’Orsay Flats I am not sure I like pointy-toed flats (or heels, for that matter) since they make my already larger-than-average feet look extra long. The animal print is cute, but the shoes are suede and I worry about how the fabric would hold up. Actually, I worry about how the soles would hold up too with the amount of walking I do in DC. I was slipping walking around the hardwood floors in my apartment since the soles have no grip to them. I’d say they are cute, but not practical.
Verdict: Return
Keep: 0
Return: 5If this post was helpful and piqued your interest about Stitch Fix, please consider using my referral link to sign up!
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My latest Stitch Fix box arrived on Monday, right after I returned from a weekend in Charlotte, NC with the DCRG travel team.
For those unfamiliar with Stitch Fix, it is an online personal styling service. When you sign up, you fill out a detailed profile about your sizing, cost, and style preferences. For $20, your stylist selects 5 items to send to you. If you like them, you can purchase the items. Your $20 styling fee can be applied towards the cost of the items you buy. You can keep all, none, or some of the items (if you purchase all 5 items, you get 25% off your order). You don’t have to commit to a monthly subscription — you can schedule one-off boxes whenever you feel like it! I have also found that curating my style Pinterest board has really helped guide my stylists towards what I like.
For this fix, I asked my stylist for clothes that will be easy to throw on between bouts at our upcoming roller derby tournament in Fort Lauderdale, FL. I think that in general, my stylist delivered on my request, but unfortunately most of the items were a bit too big for me. Interestingly, StitchFix now does shoes! I was pretty stoked to find a pair in my latest fix.
Here’s what was in the box:
Franco Sarto Grip Thong Sandal
Franco Sarto Grip Thong Sandal (with dustbag) 
Franco Sarto Grip Thong Sandal (side) 
Franco Sarto Grip Thong Sandal (front) I have to admit I was impressed with the first pair of shoes I was sent by StitchFix. First off, I am a super consistent size 8.5, so the fit was good. I love the quality of the sandals, and I especially love that they are black. (My StitchFix stylists are finally starting to listen when I say I wear a lot of black with pops of color.) However, I have tattoos on my feet and have a weird thing about having them being only partially covered; I prefer them to be either fully covered or fully showing. Yep, I told you it’s a weird preference. Also, the sandals don’t seem like they’d be that comfy for walking around in as the footbed is narrow. I’m just imagining my feet getting sweaty and slipping off the edge of the footbed. So while they are cute, they definitely aren’t practical. Verdict: Return
RD Style Matt T-Shirt Knit Dress
RD Style Matt T-Shirt Knit Dress (front) 
RD Style Matt T-Shirt Knit Dress (back) I like the idea of this dress, and I think it actually photographed better than it looks in-person. It’s cute, the fabric is super soft, and I like the print and the pocket on the front. However, I wish it was more fitted in the waist. It just looks too big hanging off me — especially in the waist and underarms. I attempted to add a belt, but the belt sits across the bottom portion of the chest pocket, so it doesn’t really work. Verdict: Return
Pixley Pompano Contrast Raw Neckline Knit Top
Pixley Pompano Contrast Raw Neckline Knit Top (front) 
Pixley Pompano Contrast Raw Neckline Knit Top (back) I love the orange color, and this shirt was super soft and comfy. However, I think the top is overall too big — especially in the armpits (note you can see my little racerback bra in the photos). While I liked the satin-y trim around the neck and armholes, I thought the strip of satin fabric in the back was strange. Also, I noticed while I was trying it on that the fabric was shedding everywhere. It left little orange bits all over the black shorts! Verdict: Return
Pixley Banu Mesh Neckline Knit Top
Pixley Banu Mesh Neckline Knit Top (front) 
Pixley Banu Mesh Neckline Knit Top (back) I like that I can wear a regular bra with this sleeveless top. I also like the heathered gray with the lace and zipper accents. However, this top is just overall too big for me and I felt like I was swimming in it. Verdict: Return
Kut From The Kloth Lonnie Distressed Boyfriend Short
Kut from the Kloth Lonnie Distressed Boyfriend Short (front) 
Kut from the Kloth Lonnie Distressed Boyfriend Short (back) BOOM. StitchFix always nails bottoms for me! I love these shorts. They are really soft and a good fit. There are cute distressed details on the legs and the pattern of the back pockets is cute, too (I bumped up the contrast of these photos a bit so you can see the details better!). I don’t have any black shorts in my wardrobe currently, so these are a perfect addition! Verdict: Keep
Keep: 1
Return: 4If this post was helpful and piqued your interest about Stitch Fix, please consider using my referral link to sign up!
