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prime wardrobe
FashionLifestyleTips

Amazon Prime Wardrobe- Have you tried it? Also Jack Ryan?

by Kelly Castillo

Has everyone had a chance to try Amazon’s new Prime Wardrobe service yet?? It’s pretty incredible and solves one of the biggest issues with online shopping for most of us which is the whole “trying on” thing that forces us to go to the mall instead of shopping from home in our comfy pajamas while streaming the latest It show.  I have used it several times and for me, who is currently in between sizes and hates shopping it’s got some real advantages. I’ll break down what I love about it and what they could improve in my review. Also, if you’re not a current Amazon prime member I have a 30 day trial membership for you at the bottom of the post, you’re welcome! If you don’t want to use it to shop then just quickly watch the whole Jack Ryan series on me… you’re welcome again.

Here’s how it works, using a separate cart on your Amazon account, you can add up to 8 items from anything on Amazon that has a Prime Wardrobe icon next to it- clothing and accessories from Men, Women’s and Children’s and then when you’re done hit submit and they ship it to you. You get your package, try everything, keep what you like and send everything else back in the same box with a new label which they’ve already included for you. They even send you an email making it easy to tell them what you’re keeping and sending back. They give you about a week to try things on and another 5 days to drop the returns in the mail. You get billed for what you’re keeping only. That’s the gist of it.

prime wardrobe haul

Here is what I really like about it: you can order more than one of the exact same item so if you’re in between sizes you can order multiple sizes of the same pair of jeans for example, you can mix up your box and order things for multiple people/categories in the same box so you can grab a box of clothes for the whole family at once, if you’re trying to decide between several similar items with different price points you can order them all and see them for yourself with no financial commitment since quality is impossible to tell online, want to see if those shoes you saw online really are the perfect shade of green to match the dress you already own? this is the service for that. Maybe you’ve been wanting to invest in the brand of jeans or cashmere sweater everyone’s been raving about but you’re not sure they’re worth it and you want to see for yourself? This is a nice way to try it, give yourself a week to decide.

Return are literally SO easy- the label is already included, nothing to print out, nothing to do. The box has a peel off tape strip on the inside flap for you to close up the box when you’re ready to send it back, so you don’t even need tape. I taped mine to be extra safe and it feels kinda silly if you’re returning one small thing to send it back in the big box but it’s easy peasy lemon squeezy for reals. They give you plenty of time to get your shit together and return it too so if you’re time/schedule/organizationally challenged like me and tend to leave boxes sitting in your back seat for days it’ll be ok…

Amazon

Here are some things they could improve: I wish they had more brands participating (this being said, it’s a newish program and I know they will get there, plus Amazon is working on getting more clothing brands on their fashion site so I think this will only get better) I did find brands like For Love and Lemons, Levis etc, shipping is not as speedy as I am used to Prime being (I am a spoiled brat baby), and they seem to take their time processing the returns which delays you being able to utilize the service again. But other than that I am into it.

Have you tried it? What do you think? Also did everyone watch the entire season of Jack Ryan all at once? I literally had to force my husband to turn it off and go to bed, only by pinky swearing we would finish it the next night. I thought I would hate it because I didn’t think I would be able to see past Jim from The Office but MAN OH MAN, I was hooked Click on the free trial below if you’re not a prime member and watch the whole thing because it’s THAT GOOD!

xo Kelly

 

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Disaster Preparedness
Tips

Disaster Preparedness

by Kelly Castillo

I was out of town last week getting my daughter and her boyfriend moved cross country and into their new place on a small island off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. It’s beautiful and feels similar enough to our coastal area here in California that we all thought it would help them to be less homesick than living in downtown, plus Sam is really not into living somewhere haunted which pretty much rules out all of Savannah proper. So Tybee Island was the choice and I spent last weekend getting them settled in before flying home around midnight Saturday night.

Cue Monday morning when we start hearing the first hints of the word “evacuation” and “hurricane” from her school. It’s the first day of classes and they’re asking her to fill out an evacuation plan. If it wasn’t so terrifying I would die laughing at the crazy shit that happens to our family. I realize it’s happening to millions of other families as well, but honestly… this is bananas. You’re already worried and conflicted leaving your kid at a college so far from home. I mean, they were a baby like 5 fucking minutes ago, right? How can they be 20 years old, you just potty trained them didn’t you?

So you leave your little tiny infant daughter on the other side of the country, 2000+ miles away and you fly home with terror and panic gripping your heart while you actively talk yourself out of what you know is not rational thinking. Kind of like when you take them to kindergarten the first day or when they have to get vaccinations and your mom instinct is to pick them up and run for the hills or alternately punch the nurse right in the fucking face but you know that’s not reasonable behavior, so you control yourself and you ADULT and you smile and thank the person who just stabbed your infant multiple times and you pay that person for doing the stabbing and you weep all the way home. Amirite? Oh, just me?

So anyway… imagine the horror of leaving your kid at college far away and less than 48 hours later there’s a freaking hurricane barreling down at them… news reports saying it’s the worst one in 30 years. Jesus, take the wheel here. No literally, take this wheel of a hurricane and spin the damn thing far away from my tiny precious little  cherub. Which he seems to be doing (thanks Lord! and sorry Northerners no offense I didn’t ask him to aim it any particular direction I just said away from her).

Here are some storm tips if you’re a Californian like me and ill equipped that I have learned this week from doing my googles:

  • Use a sharpie to write your name and number on pets that are not microchipped (like horses hooves) who could get separated from you in the chaos (we won’t judge you if you do this to your small children as well, I probably would)
  • Keep your gas tank full and cash on hand to last up to a week or more (power outages mean gas pumps and ATMs won’t work- my kid did not realize this until I told her and FYI the gas station on her island ran out of gas two full days before the storm was scheduled to hit). Also a case of bottled water and some snacks like protein bars etc. and any medications
  • Solar cell phone chargers and hand crank flashlights are game changers
  • Listen to authorities and evacuate when told, stay in place when told, stay roads and beaches when told. Don’t be stupid. They are trying to keep you safe.
  • If you have elderly neighbors or neighbors who are disabled, make sure you know what they’re plan is or who to contact on their behalf. We are all in this together. Help them board up windows and sandbag, don’t be a dick.
  • If you have the ability to shelter a family, do so. Many families are displaced and cannot afford hotels, don’t qualify for shelters because of pets etc. so open your homes if you’re able.
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ParentingTips

College Textbooks

by Kelly Castillo

I know I’ve talked about it before, but if you’re looking for an affordable alternative for your son/daughter’s college textbooks HERE is the link for Amazon’s used college textbook program.

 

xo Kelly

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stay hydrated
BeautyTips

Hydration- Beyond Just Drinking Water

by Kelly Castillo

stay hydrated We all know we are supposed to be drinking a ton of water when it’s this hot out. That dehydration is the real enemy when you”re out all day in the sun at the beach or pool. But besides sipping water throughout the day, what else should we be doing to nourish our bodies in this summer heat? I don’t know about y’all, but my skin has been dry, my hair has been brittle, and this weather has been beating my overall beauty routine to shit.

Mother Nature knows what’s up and hands us the perfect hydrating foods this time of year so thanks sis for having our backs. Watermelon, cucumber, and grapes should be on your plate in heavy rotation. And if you don’t have aloe vera planted in your yard, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s amazing on burns, skin irritations, and rashes plus is awesome just mixed into your regular beauty products for extra hydration. A little goes a loooong way.

Tumblers like the one in the photo are a great motivator for making sure you get your water intake- they gently remind you to meet your goals. Like little hydration cheerleaders, hey girl hey! And if you hate plain water mix in a little chopped up fruit or herbs so it’s not so boring. No vodka though, we are trying to keep you alive in this post. The tumbler and other similar ones are available in the blog shop.

I’ve linked some hydrating products below for you to try if you’re having super dry skin or hair, there’s also plenty of DIY at home recipes available all over Pinterest if you want to try and whip up some remedies yourself.

 

xo Kelly

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heel fail 1
FashionTips

Summer Events and Heels

by Kelly Castillo

 

 

summer heels

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heel fail

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walking in heels

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heel fail 1

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We all love the added height and leg defining effect of a great stiletto heel, but Summer events make it so challenging to wear heels even for the most formal occasion. Most Summer events are held outside, often on grass or gravel, uneven terrain or involve walking and heels can just ruin your night. I have fallen, broken a heel on cobblestone or worse. You don’t want to be the girl who twists her ankle walking into an event and

So what’s the solution? Well, you have some options. You can say fuck it and walk on your tippy-toes all night which I totally do all the time.  Inside my head I am repeating” walk like a normal person, you’re fine, this is fine.” You can wear a chunkier block type heel which gives you way more stability and will work better on grass and gravel while still giving you some height and that leg lengthening look. The key is to find one with an open toe and an ankle strap so it still looks more delicate. A wedge has the same effect, but I don’t feel stable at all on a wedge, I feel like I’m balancing weirdly and I’m about to tip over any second.  Also to me wedges look clunky as hell like you have a flotation device strapped to each foot.

I guess the most obvious answer is to play it safe and wear a flat, but that’s no fun right? You can always pack a simple foldable pair of flats in your bag if the night might involve a large amount of walking or late night dancing or if your shoes are new and you’re not confident in them yet. These are some of the best I have tried and honestly, if you’re hosting a large gathering I think it’s such a nice touch to leave a basket of these out for guests who didn’t think to bring their own. They will thank you for your thoughtfulness:

 

It’s just unfair that the most beautiful shoes are always the least comfortable ones. Why do designers design these precious, gorgeous beauties that we lust after and then make our feet bleed? It’s so sad. Meanwhile the technology exists to make memory foam lined orthopedic inserts but they reserve those for clunky breathable monstrosities that I’m just not ready to surrender to yet. Soon maybe, but not quite yet.

In case anyone gives a shit, my dress is Marchesa Notte and their Fall version (longer sleeves) can be purchased here.  This is a super forgiving dress and easy to wear. It’s fully lined and you don’t need any kind of special shapewear- it’s a throw on and go kind of a deal. The shoes are Halston Heritage and are my most comfortable basic black heel, you can find them here– they’re actually my favorites, I wear them all the time.

 

xo Kelly

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Tips For A Summer Disney Day From An Expert
ParentingTipsTravel and Events

Tips For A Summer Disney Day From An Expert

by Kelly Castillo

disney balloons                                                         

So I know a lot of people plan a special day at Disneyland as part of their Summer vacation plans and I thought I would tap into the expertise of my girl Megan, who is an annual passholder and goes to the park several times a week for a list of the best tips for a summer day at the happiest place on Earth (that’s definitely open to debate). Personally I would rather wrestle that bear from The Revenant than stand in those lines of sticky children in the heat, but to each his own I guess.  We will definitely be doing more of these Disney insider posts as this was just the tiniest tip of the iceberg of her knowledge. She takes her little ones to Disneyland every week and knows all the ins and outs of that godforsaken place. All photos are Megan’s own by the way. Here is what she had to say:

disney popcorn                         disney lolly                            disney cotton candy

First things first, get there at park opening or as insiders say “rope drop”!  The parks opening times vary by day, but most park goers don’t get there for about and hour or two after that.  If you want to maximize park time and get on as many rides as possible, while avoiding the heat and crowds, research what time the park opens the day you’re visiting and try and make it at that time (leaving plenty of time for parking and walking through the turnstile lines etc). Disneyland hotels also offer a “magic hour” with your stay which means you get to experience the parks an hour before everyone else does. Totally cool if you’re a hotel guest so take advantage of that if you’re planning an overnight.
Want to score a free souvenir? If you stop in any retail location, they will give you free buttons to take home. They have various buttons for various occasions, but all super cute and totally collectible! Also, if you head to the Jungle Cruise ride and ask for a map they’ll give you an authentic map of the ride to take home free of charge. But be sure to go early- they tend to run out  before lunch.
Don’t waste time buying bottled water.  Every restaurant has free cups of ice cold water…all you need to do is ask.  When water bottles are up to almost $5 a bottle, save that money for churros.
Make sure to bring your own sunscreen. They do sell it in the parks in the baby center and in front where the entrance is located, but it’s way overpriced and not worth the hassle.
Have small kids and want to beat the heat? If you’re heading to Disney’s California Adventure,  they have a few locations to get wet, so bring a swimsuit. In Bugs Land, there is a sprouting water area that is perfect for hot summer days. They also have a sprouting location in front of Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.
Get to know where the air conditioned inside areas are. Disneyland has Star Wars: Launch Bay, which is nice and dark and air conditioned with plenty of things to do and characters to meet.  Disney’s California Adventure Park has Animation Academy, which plays Disney movies above you and has multiple rooms to have fun and explore in. Both locations are good for taking a break from the heat for a few minutes.
Utilize the fast pass! If you know it’s going to be a hot day, pick your rides based on what you want to go on most. Know that hot days mean the water lines will be VERY long, so maybe get a fast pass for one of those so you don’t spend half a day waiting for a log ride.
The slushies near the coke corner on main street are worth every penny.  They come in multiple flavor options and you can choose them all to make a rainbow colored icy perfection.

Looking to take an amazing photo at Disney for your instagram? Of course you are! So is everybody else unfortunately. Everyone heads to the front of Sleeping Beauty Castle,  but it’s actually one of the worst spots to take a picture. It’s always crowded and the sun directly hits it all day, meaning you’re staring into the sun, making for squinty eyes and bad lighting.

Instead of the castle, head to these great locations:

1. Just to the right of the castle on the walkway to the wishing well. Not only can you still get a great view of the castle in the background, but the lighting is better and the people are not as condensed in one spot.

2. Minnie Dot Wall in Toontown of Disneyland:
This is the newest trendiest wall currently at the parks and I believe it’s only temporary. Located next to Minnie’s house in Toontown.

                         

3. Monorail line entrance in Tomorrow Land:
This photo spot is located on the ramp up to the loading dock for the Monorail. It’s great for photos because you can see behind the Matterhorn as well as a great view of the park.

4. The Buzz Wall:
A temporary photo opp wall located next to the Monsters Inc ride in California Adventure Park. Great for photos,  but if you’re a kid, you’ll have to jump high to get it just right.

                             

5. The classic Disney Blue Wall:
So popular, it’s got its own Instagram hashtag! #bluewallpics

bluewallphoto

6. The Small World Wall:
Another pretty wall photo that’s got a bit of a following on Instagram. Located on your way to Its A Small World at Disneyland next to Mickeys Magical Map

small world

7. Radiator Springs Racers walkway in Cars Land:
Located in Disney’s California Adventure, these photos end up being breathtaking due to its realistic look.

xo Megan

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