StitchFix #9 Review

I've got StitchFix #9 and Amber did a great job styling for me! I asked her to send fit-and-flare dresses for my Valentine's Day date, and she succeeded! Here are my five items from StitchFix. Remember, if you ever want to try out StitchFix for yourself, use my code to get your first box fast and I get a $25 referral credit! It's only $20 for a box and that purchase goes towards the price of any item you keep. Shipping is free both ways.

Melody Pearls & Branches Earrings 28 - These are very cute and sparkly, and lightweight! Keep!

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StitchFix #8 Review

I love StitchFix. I've been using it for about 9 months now to get a monthly box of cute fashionable clothes. They send you five things for $20. If you like 'em, you keep 'em. That $20 acts as a credit towards whatever you keep. Keep all five items and you get 25% off.

If you use my code, I get an extra credit and you get your first fix a little faster.

Here's my eighth StitchFix!

Johnny Skinny Jeans - Cute skinny jeans, but I don't really need jeans so I didn't keep them.

Wynn Ikat Front Pocket blouse - I really like this sheer blouse. It's a pretty deep red color with neat little black patterns all over it. Keep!

Milan Lace Print Back Pleat Top - I love this print, and the fabric is super soft. Keep!

Queensland Dolman Jersey Top - A big fat NO. I hate this type of top, where the arm holes are so big they are like wings. I sent this one back.

Abrial Colorblocked Button-Up Cardigan - This cardigan was so cute! But it was rather short on me so I sent it back.

So my eighth StitchFix was a little mediocre, kind of like my 7th one. I think they could have done a better job choosing things that fit my shape and style, and I worried that it was because the site was becoming so popular. I tested a new theory with my Ninth StitchFix by explaining exactly what I was expecting, and I ended up keeping all five items! More on that Fix later..

StitchFix #7 Review

I haven't been to the mall in about 3 months and I owe a lot of that to StitchFix. See, I don't have a lot of time to go shopping. But when I do, I spend WAY too much. So to keep myself from spending too much but still get my 'fix' for new clothes, I signed up for StitchFix.

You sign up and select your preferences for size and style. Your stylist (mine is Ishara!) sends you a box of items they've picked for you. The 'styling fee' is $20.

Try everything on at your home, then send anything you don't like back. That $20 goes towards whatever you keep, and if you keep all five items you get a 25% discount. Sweet!

Let's check out my seventh StitchFix!

Galway 3/4 Sleeve Button-Up Blouse - This cost $58 and is a simple sheer button up. It didn't fit me well because it was a little short, so I sent it back.

Beatrice Chain Knot Detail Necklace $32 - A cool, simple silver necklace. Kept!

Andrea Floral Brocade Knit Dress $68 - I love the lace detail on this dress. I kept it!

Marley Sleeveless Sheath Dress $128 - This dress was a bit out of my price range... but it fit like a sleeve... so I kept it.

Livingston Ribbed Sweater Dress $98 - Also not what I like to spend on dresses. I sent this one back. The fabric was too heavy and it was too thick for weather in San Francisco.

Not too shabby, but also not one of the best StitchFix's that I've received. I still kept three items out of the bunch.

What do you think? Have you checked out StitchFix yet? Have you had a lovely Fix you want to tell me about? Comment!

And as usual, please use my referral link! It gets you in and gets me a credit for my next Fix!

Laptop Recommendations

I get asked this question a lot. Like, a WHOLE LOT. Every day.

"What laptop do you use on your show?" or "What laptop do you recommend?"

So I'm writing this blog to answer the age old question about Shannon's laptop.

When it comes to Linux distros, my laptop of choice for 3 years has been a small notebook called an Acer TimelineX with an old 3rd gen i3 processor. I have been using this one for my Hak5 segments for several years. It's very small (I believe 11 inches), compact, and takes a bit of a beating. I've loaded several operating systems on it and it still works to this day. I'm currently thinking about updating to a slightly larger laptop with better battery life and a larger screen / keyboard, though. While this laptop works like a charm for simple processing, it IS old and a bit too small.

I'm thinking about upgrading to the Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook. It's got an updated processor, high resolution, it's 13 inches but still weighs around 3 pounds (pretty good for toting back and forth from work) and it's damn pretty. I'd probably choose the i3 / non-touch / Windows 7 version because honestly, you don't need touch for playing in the terminal. It's also more expensive than a notebook. With that upgrade will be a price point of at least $1049.99... so there's that.

Here's another one to consider if you're wanting high-end and Apple. A Macbook Air. While I prefer the usefulness of a Windows machine that can ultimately dual boot to a Linux system or vice versa (both needed for my career, and I also grew up with Windows so I know it much better), the Mac line actually derived from the same place as Linux. Why do you think you see so many Macbooks at DEFCON? It IS an option for hackers, but personally not my first choice.

My last choice (and recent favorite) has been the new Acer Aspire S7. Disclaimer: Acer has sent me this model for long-term review. It's an expensive machine, and quite beautiful. This one runs Windows 8 and has a top-of-the-line battery, screen resolution, and processor. It's also very lightweight at under 3 pounds. I currently use this ultrabook for my podcasts on screen and I've gotten very used to the Win8 interface and touchscreen.

I have used all of these machines and I love them all. Eventually new lines will come along and take their place but if you are in the market for a laptop these have been my go-to choices. Obviously they are quite pricey (which is why I haven't upgraded!) and there are cheaper options on the market. Consider your own criteria before buying. What brands you trust, what is important to you (in the day and age of cloud computing, 1TB drives aren't needed for my own ultrabooks), and where will you be going with your laptop.

Oh, and I wasn't paid for this blog, just FYI. These are all my opinions.

StitchFix #6 Review

I'm obsessed with StitchFix and will be getting my fifth box in the mail in a few days. Here is my take on a box from back in May. StitchFix is a site where you tell all about your style and sizing preferences. Then, a stylist will send you five items picked just for you. You can try everything on at home and keep just what you want. The box comes with free shipping both ways, and a 25% discount if you keep all five items. A box costs $20, which goes towards the purchase of anything you keep! When you sign up, share your referall link for a $25 credit! Here is my referral link so you can get an invite: StitchFix.

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