I Am Stepher

March 11, 2013

I need my stitch fix!

Filed under: Fashion, Stephermendations, Uncategorized — iamstepher @ 4:09 am

Image

I am on a waiting list to get my first shipment from stitch fix.  I have been on the waiting list for 2 weeks and still haven’t gotten my ship date notification.  The good news is, Stitch Fix just received $4.75 million in funding to expand and help people like me get their shipments in a timely manner.

 So what is Stitch Fix?  Stitch Fix is a subscription-based personal shopping program that is completed completely online and delivered right to your door and it only costs $20!  For most of us, hiring a personal stylist is too expensive for regular use.  Stitch Fix allows you to use their technology to create a personalized profile based on details about your body and style like body shape (bust, hips and shoulders),  size, budget and style (bohemian, classic, preppy, etc.).  Stitch Fix also shows you pictures of outfits and accessories and you rate what you like best.  Each item they send has a price point of about $65, unless you ask for more expensive items.

 Based on your taste, the Stitch Fix stylist sends you a box of five items for the user to try on.  The user keeps and pays for only the items they like and sends back the items they do not like.  The $20 subscription fee is credited towards any purchases, but is kept by Stitch Fix as a styling fee if you send everything back. The company keeps track of everything you keep and return and also allows you to customize your next order (think, more green and more accessories please).

 The coolest thing about Stitch Fix is that it gets better and more personalized with use.  Each time you keep any of the 5 items delivered to you, the stylist is better able to customize your next shipment.  

 I will update you when I receive my shipment.  Maybe I will even make an un-boxing video.  

Want to sign up for Stitch Fix? Click below:

http://stitchfix.com/sign_up?referrer_id=3060765

June 26, 2011

Pinterest is changing my life!

Filed under: Stephermendations, Uncategorized — iamstepher @ 9:59 pm


Thank you so much to Molly for introducing me to Pinterest. I love it so so much. What is Pinterest?
From the website: Pinterest is a virtual pinboard
Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. To get started you have to ask for an invite but it is so worth it.

I am finding recipes, clothes, gardening tips, EVERYTHING. I am so obsessed!

Chocolate Chip Cookie and Oreo fudge Brownie

Filed under: Food, Stephermendations — iamstepher @ 9:53 pm

I couldn’t decide if I should make chocolate chip cookies, brownies or an Oreo Sunday for dessert tonight, so I combined all of them!

You could totally make this with your own recipe but I like things quick and easy so here are my directions:
Buy one roll of slice and bake choco chip cookies, one box of oreos, your favorite brownie mix and ice cream…and maybe some chocolate sauce.

Roll out the cookie dough in an 8×11 pan lined with parchment paper. Add one layer or Oreos. Pour prepared brownie mix over the Oreos.

Cook at 350 for 45 minutes! Delish!

Thanks to Pinterest for the idea!

I AM SORRY

Filed under: Stephermendations, Uncategorized — iamstepher @ 9:36 pm

Please accept these pictures of adorable animals as my apology for not blogging since getting engaged/married. I will try to be better.

May 19, 2011

Unusually Fine photogs. Sneak Peek

Filed under: Stephermendations — iamstepher @ 2:04 am

Andy and I were so lucky to have the BEST photographer team in the world

Unusually Fine.

November 3, 2010

Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

Filed under: Food, Stephermendations — iamstepher @ 5:08 pm


I love to cook but can never get around to posting recipes on this blog. I have made these a few times and I perfected the recipe last night so I thought I should share. They are super easy and so delicious.

Here is what you will need:

1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats
1/2 cup granulated sugar or brown sugar
1/3 cup oat flour (or 1/3 cup oats, processed till finely ground in a food processor or blender)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 to 1 and1/2 cups dried fruits and nuts *
1/2 cup peanut butter (I use a 1/4 cup creamy and 1/4 cup crunchy)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 tablespoon water

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8″ x 8″ x 2″ pan in one direction with parchment paper, allowing it to go up the opposing sides. Lightly grease the parchment paper and the exposed pan, or coat with a non-stick spray.

Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla, melted butter (still warm so it will blend together with the peanut butter) , honey, corn syrup, peanut butter and water. Mix the wet ingredients with the dry until the mixture is evenly crumbly. Spread in the prepared pan, pressing them in firmly to ensure they are molded to the shape of the pan. (A piece of plastic wrap can help with this, as you press down on the back of it.)

Bake the bars for 30 to 40 minutes, until they’re brown around the edges and a little on top. They’ll still seem soft and almost underbaked when you press into the center of the pan but do not worry, they’ll set completely once completely cool.

Cool the bars in their pan completely on a cooling rack. (Alternately, after about 20 minutes you can use your parchment “sling” to lift and remove the bars, and place them in their paper on the rack to cool the rest of the way. This can speed the process up.)

I used dried blueberries and cranberries for this recipe. I didn’t need to add nuts because I used crunchy peanut butter. They turned out perfectly. Next time I am going to substitute the fruit for chocolate chips! I might also add a little protein powder to make them power bars.

Enjoy!

Sweater Pin Obsession

Filed under: Fashion, Stephermendations — iamstepher @ 4:45 pm


I am banning myself from buying any more sweater pins on eBay until I learn to properly bid on things. I accidentally won over bid and won all of my eBay auctions last week and I now have about 45 sweater pins to add to my wardrobe. Because of this, I am forcing myself to wear a different one every day. I also tried to put together a few monochromatic looks like Emma on Glee.

Here is what I have come up with so far………


October 18, 2010

Beauty MUST HAVE

Filed under: Products that work, Quality Over Quantity, Stephermendations — iamstepher @ 9:55 pm

It’s been a few days since I received my bag of goodies from Barneys and I already have a new favorite. I will be the first to admit that I am a total sucker for a new face cream. I took a picture of the bottles next to my sink this morning and I am almost embarrassed to show it. These are the face/eye creams that I use on a daily basis. In the interest of total disclosure, three of the items are for my hair.

Back Camera

I was using straight olive oil on my face for about a month and I loved it. I thought my skin looked great and felt super smooth. The only issue was that it required me to dust a little powder on my face before I left the house. For most people this wouldn’t be an issue, but I hate to wear any makeup on my skin. I don’t mind eye makeup, but anywhere else on my face just feels weird. Another issue was that the olive oil smelled like, well, olive oil. I could live with all of that, especially because a $5 bottle would last me at least a year, but after it spilled all over my suitcase while we were in Europe, I was totally over it.

Sunday Riley’s skin care line is my new obsession (in addition to sweater clips). I have been using the Juno oil for about a week and my skin feels awesome. I just ordered a full size bottle and I also ordered the Good Genes cream. I have read a little bit about it and it sounds pretty great.


Good Genes
Purpose

Everyone wants the unmistakable look of having “good genes”. This amazing treatment is formulated with key ingredients which will plump fine lines, reveal brighter, newer skin, and improve circulation, offering a smooth, vibrant complexion. Long term use will restore damaged skin, reduce hyperpigmentation and acne scars, reduce the depth and number of lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone, & increase epidermal firmness and thickness.

Unique Properties
Great to use 5 days in a row as an intensive radiance treatment or anytime you want to impress. Can be applied daily for reviving skin which is damaged by excessive UV exposure, aging, acne scars, pollution, lifestyle.

Purpose

A rare, dry oil absolute that gives skin an obsession-worthy glow. A patent-pending blend of lightweight, fast absorbing oils extremely high in natural retinol, Vitamin C, Essential Amino Acids, Omega-3, 6, & 9, UV shields, and natural Anti-Inflammatory agents for luminous skin. Anti-Aging, anti-oxidant.
Juno Transformative Lipid Syrum
Unique Properties
A dry oil blend: hydrates and vanishes, leaving skin velvety and smooth.

Go to sundayriley.com for more info. You can also order from Barneys.

October 14, 2010

Barneys Beauty Bag Event

Filed under: Products that work, Quality Over Quantity, Stephermendations — iamstepher @ 8:37 pm

OMG! Finally my Barneys beauty bag arrived in the mail!! Every September Barneys New York has their Beauty Bag Event. This is the very best GWP (gift with purchase) available. I found out about it 4 years ago and I have been participating ever since. You have to spend $175 to get the gift but I am telling you it is so so so so worth it. I usually wait until I need a new perfume or a bunch of makeup. You can find out which weekend in September it will be by doing a quick google search or by calling one of the stores a few months in advance.

There is not a Barneys in St. Louis so for the past few years I just call into one of the New York locations and ask to place my order over the phone. The sales associates work on commission and they are always more than happy to take your order. This year I had a slight problem – they forgot to put my order in the computer. I waited two weeks for my bag to come before calling to ask what was going on. They were super nice about it and sent me all of my stuff over night for no extra charge.

So what is in the bag? Tons of samples and full size products. I have included pictures below. One year there was a $500 Cle de peau face cream (full size!). This year there are full size lip sticks, eye shadows, nail polish, mascara and soap. There are also lots of half-size products like Sunday Riley’s Stem Cell Serum (when would I ever be able to try this?). If you can, I strongly suggest you participate next year.

This is the cute little bag that everything comes in. Every year it gets better.

October 4, 2010

I need these running shoes!

Filed under: Stephermendations, Uncategorized — iamstepher @ 3:31 am


via Thepop.com

UNDERCOVER x GIRA x NIKE
The buzz across the internet and on the streets of Tokyo’s Harajuku district has been building steadily. In October 2010, Nike and Jun Takahashi, founder and head designer of Japan’s coveted Undercover clothing label, will be releasing the first Nike x Undercover Gyakusou performance running collection.

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