Magic Shorts...Part 2

Awhile back, I posted about the magical shorts of INKnBURN. I have been running in skirts for a long time and was really  hesitant to try shorts. They seem so, well, short and I'm self-conscious about my legs. And I fear the dreaded chub-rub. Then I discovered INKnBURN shorts and couldn't get enough. I still run in skirts, but I also really love the shorts. Why am I writing about them again? Well, there are some changes that are awesome that I want to share. The newest shorts are the Liberty Design. Stars and Stripes ... living in Texas, of course I had to have them. C'mon ... it would be wrong not to have them. And the changes start with the new design.

Before I get started, I wanted to demonstrate the differences in INKnBURN Denim shorts. I really love the classic denims because they are so versatile. I've shown you before, so no reason to re-post the pics of front/back/waistband, but just for a comparison of colors.

Classic Blue Denim

Classic Dark Denim

Wildflower--more distressed denim look

Liberty ... I love how the denim continues to have the distressed look. The blue is really much more blue than the other denim looks. I love this look and it's perfect for Texas. But, I find it a little harder to match the colors/patterns to other items I own. It doesn't stop me from loving them, though.

 Now, lets talk about some of the differences in the new designed shorts. If you read my earlier post, you may recall that in the newer designs, there seemed to be some size discrepancies. Some people felt the shorts fit exactly the same. Others felt that they ran a little smaller. Well, the folks at INKnBURN took those concerns very seriously and did some investigating. It turns out that the dry I.C.E. fabric they were using had changed in the most recent purchase run and some of the fabric shrunk a bit in the processing. They wanted to make sure this never happened again because they want the sizes to be consistent so their customers can be happy. After much research, they found a new fabric that doesn't have the shrinkage issue ... because, seriously, who likes shrinkage?

So, the first difference is the new material. The original dry I.C.E. fabric has a light-weight rip-stop look and feel to it. A teeny bit "nubby." The Dry I.C.E. 2.0 fabric is very smooth feeling. I personally think it feels a little heavier than the original, but heavy isn't the right word. It's still light and breezy, but to me, it feels tougher. It doesn't have the look of the fine lines you see in rip-stop either. It still dries super fast and didn't get sticky-sweaty when I took it for a run in 100% humidity that turned to rain. So ... how do I feel about the new fabric? I like it a lot. I liked the old fabric, too, though.

Next, let's talk about the fit. Each piece is hand-cut, and then the design sublimated to embed deeply into the threads, and then hand-sewn. With that, there is always bound to be some size variation, but that's the beauty of it. One thing I noticed on my pair was that in the back, the waistband seam and the center seam didn't line up perfectly. I don't really care because if you are spending that much time staring at my butt, shame on you (unless you are The Musician, then stare away). I feel like the fit is the same as the older designs, but does seem to hug my butt a little more. I've heard a few other people of different shapes and sizes say that they feel like the shorts were cut exactly to their measurements. I feel the same way.

I wear my shorts a little looser than some and a little tighter than others, so ... everyone has to make their best call on the best size to choose. One of the things I really love about the fit of the shorts is that the back is longer than the front. It provides good coverage, especially for someone who is plagued by gravity.

I noticed a few small differences in the cut of these shorts compared to some of my others. The inseam seems a tiny bit smaller. That means a slightly shorter short. Remember, I said I'm super self-conscious about chub-rub? It's not pretty, but even worse, it can be painful. Well, with shorter inseam, I was worried. I kept looking down to make sure the shorts were riding up. They weren't. So ... shorter inseam not a problem for me.

The other thing I noticed on fit was that the back seems actually a little longer than the older styles. For me, that's a good thing. Gives me a little more time before gravity says "no more."

Something that isn't particularly new about the fit is the waistband. It has a really cute design on the inside and can be worn up or down. It's already a bit low-rise and fits exactly where I want at the top of my iliac crest. For me, it's not pretty to roll it down. No one wants a muffin top and it just makes the shorts feel too small for someone my size. I think if I were 20 years younger and everything was tighter and maybe smaller, then I would be rocking the roll-down look.

I think the waistband fits great. I have no reason to make any adjustments. But, if you happen to have better curves than me, the waistband has a draw-cord for cinching down the waist. I have never used it and didn't even realize it was there until someone else pointed it out to me. But, if you have a teeny waist, you can make adjustments.

One more difference in the new shorts ... the pocket. The shorts have two front pockets. The pockets are really subtle so if you aren't stuffing them, you might not even notice you had them. The difference in the pockets is the size, which apparently, does matter. The new design has larger pockets that are large enough to fit an iPhone5. I took a picture of the Samsung Galaxy S5 in the front pocket. It's wide enough even with a protective case. And it is a deeper pocket. I personally, wouldn't carry my phone in my pocket for running, but I would carry some nutrition. I'm not a gel person, so these pockets provide enough room for a bar of sorts. This is a bonus for me.

INKnBURN is a small company of 14. Everything is hand-made right here in the good ole USA. The designs are produced in limited quantity and once they are sold ... they are gone, as the artists/designers are moving on to their next great masterpiece of artwork on clothing So...go shopping NOW!!! and tell me what you think of the new shorts. Be sure to check out their fun patriotic themed shirts for women and men.

OK ... so you think I'm a crazed fan-girl/groupie. Well, in addition to the beauty, quality, and uniqueness of the apparel ... it's really about the people of INKnBURN. Yes, I spend a lot of pennies buying their clothes. But, they pay attention to their customers. They paid attention when people said the shorts were having sizing issues. They paid attention when people asked for bigger pockets. And, they noticed that I am addicted to Oreos. One day, out of the blue ... I got an unexpected package in the mail. It had been a rough-ish week and this made everything better. How many people who buy a lot from big-brand names know the names of the owners and employees, have seen really cute pics of their awesome kids .... and how many customer service representatives care enough to get to know their most loyal of customers?

And yes, I like green tea Oreos ...
Maybe if I didn't have an Oreo addiction, I could roll down that waistband

Popsugar MustHave June 2015

 PopSugar MustHave is a monthly lifestyle subscription box. I call it a Christmas stocking in a box and I look forward to it every month.  It's filled with items that I might not purchase for myself, but that I will use and love. Just a bit of luxury.

The usual subscription box is $39.99/month, but if you purchase 3 or 6 month subscriptions, there is a little discount. And, they have discounts every month if you find the codes. The current discount code is MUSTHAVE5 for $5 off your subscription.  Black Friday they had a special for $75 off a 6-month subscription. So, my $214.70 ($35.78/box) came to 139.70 ($23.28/box). Not a bad deal when you consider all that's in it. 

I am a headband wearer, so to receive a Yogitoes Peacock hBand was a plus for me. It's really soft and I love the way the color slowing moves from lavender to indigo. I will be great as an eye mask at the end of a yoga session. Retail $4 (but I have paid more for headbands)

Quay Australia Mandate Sunglasses: Yes, we all like a new pair of sunglasses. These seem to be fine quality and the storage bag is really nice. But, since I wear only prescription sunglasses, these won't do me a lot of good. But, I suspect I can score some extra friend points by gifting them. Hmmm ... just to decide which friend is most worthy. Retail $45. 


Judy Blume's In the Likely Event: OK ... I admit it, Judy Blume? Really? I'm not 12. But, this is supposed to be written for a more mature audience than the "coming-of-age" books I group up with. At a minimum, it should be a nice light easy read for a beachy day or a day relaxing by the boat. Retail $27.95, but on Amazon for $16.77.

Pacifica Enlighten Eye Brightening Shadow Palette: I really need to start wearing make-up. I love make-up, I am just too lazy to put it on most mornings. I have gotten some lovely eye-shadows in subscription boses and I really like this color blend. It's vegan, which makes me like it even more. It is infused with coconut oil and I am a big fan of the benefits. Retail $14. 

SNAP Infusion SUPERCANDY. I received berry and sour and sampled immediately after checking ingredients. Many gummies are made with gelatin, but these have a pectin base. That's great for me. Tasty. May be great for a change during long run or bike days. Calories are low and there are b-vitamins and electrolytes. Retail $4.

SPONGELLE Boxed Flowers-Fleur en Boite: How fun is this. A body wash infused shower buff. This will be perfect for travel. It has about a week's worth of washes and smells great. And, it feels kind of decadent and whimsical all at once. Retail $16. 

Special Extra: Sweet & Spark $30 Gift Card. I like vintage jewelry, but nothing on the site is $30. I don't particularly love gift cards in subscrption boxes that require me to spend more money to redeem. So .. this didn't have a lot of added value for me. But, as an added item, I am sure some people will really appreciate it.


So, what do I think? It's an interesting box. I liked everything in it, but it didn't have me jumping for joy like the last few months. But, c'mon ... the last few boxes have been total home runs and the bar is set really high. I have nothing to complain about, just expectations have been raised. I will get use out of everything or find someone who will. Retail is $110.95 (not counting the gift card) or $99.77 (if you  use the Amazon pricing for the book). So, I felt it had value and am happy.  

PopSugar MustHave Summer 2015

PopSugar MustHave is a monthly lifestyle subscription box. I call it a Christmas stocking in a box and I look forward to it every month.  It's filled with items that I might not purchase for myself, but that I will use and love. Just a bit of luxury.

The usual subscription box is $39.99/month, but if you purchase 3 or 6 month subscriptions, there is a little discount. And, they have discounts every month if you find the codes. Black Friday they had a special for $75 off a 6-month subscription. So, my $214.70 ($35.78/box) came to 139.70 ($23.28/box). Not a bad deal when you consider all that's in it. A few times a year, they release a Special Edition Box. I have found that the past few months PopSugar MustHave has been hitting it out of the park, so I couldn't resist the Summer box for $100. 

The Special Edition Boxes are packaged a little different from the regular monthly boxes. The box is packaged inside of the shipping box. Each item is individually tissue wrapped and then the entire contents are wrapped in tissue. Of course, a fold-out is included with a description of the included items. 

Each item was individually wrapped in tissue paper, which for me adds to the feeling of unwrapping a Christmas stocking. Before I share the contents, I also need to point out, that once the boxes were unwrapped, I really really liked each of the inner boxes also.

First up was a Kendra Scott Ainsley Cuff Bracelet: OMIGOSH, DO I LOVE THIS BRACELET? The gold cuff is gorgeous. I love the hourglass shape and the lace filigree design. I don't usually wear cuffs and have received a few recently and found I like wearing them when I can. This is by far my favorite. Totally a win for me. Retail $120. 

Next was Baggu Weekend Bag in Sailor Stripe: I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS TOO!!! This is a really big, roomy, durable bag. It will hold everything I need for a long weekend and will fit as a carry-on. I have struggled finding a cute bag that can do both for me. This one hits the mark. Retail $74. 

Omorovicza Gold Shimmer Oil: I wasn't really sure what to think of this at first. It contains a plant based blend of oils and colloidal gold. It does shimmer, but not sparkly. It is supposed to be great for softening, strengthening, and repairing skin and hair. I feel like I need to use it for semi-special occasions, so I'll just have to find excuses. I did a little test and it's not sparkly and it was smoothing. Retail $80. 

Sunnylife Beach Paddles In Bronte: I'll admit it. I kind of like the idea of these. Seems like fun on the beach, but I'll need to find the right excuse to use them. They came nicely packaged in a clear case for storage. I wouldn't have thought of getting these for myself, but I always see people playing on the beach and wish I had something fun, too. Retail $26

Savannah Bee Company Honey for Cheese and Old Fashioned Honey Dipper: I like honey. I don't eat cheese, so I'm not sure about combining cheese and honey. I'm assuming this will work great for my honey uses or I may gift it to a foodie friend of mine. Retail $7.50. 

Fringe Studio Vintage Love Anchors Glass Tray: Personally, I can't have enough little dishes to put my jewelry and bits and bobbles in. I need trays everywhere or I will lose everything. I really like this. It's got a nice nautical summer theme and it just makes me feel good. Retail $16. 

Overall, I'm really happy with the curation. It was a lot of fun and had a couple of super awesome items. I would have been happy with just those and the other items were just icing on the cake. I didn't feel a super coherent theme, but  I liked everything in the box. I could find fun and utility in it. With a retail value of $323.50, I definitely felt I got value. And, I think PopSugar MustHave hit another home run.  

Wantable Intimate June 2015

Wantable has 5 subscriptions: an Accessory box (I am not a good accessorizor), their Intimate box, Make-up box and their Fitness wear and Style box (try on at home and keep what you want). For the Accessory, Intimate, and Make-up, the cost is $40 the first month and then a 10% discount subsequent months if you keep everything. You can return individual items, though, so it's not a keep all or none sort of thing. When you sign up, you set up a style profile an select things you love, like, and dislike. They will never send something you dislike. Each box is selected for you, so my box will be different from everyone else's box. And, you can return if you want. That's a bonus most boxes don't allow. I chose the Intimates box. Assortment of undergarments, socks, loungewear, etc. Should be 3-4 items per box depending on value of items.

Once again, I was really impressed with shipping speed. My box actually arrived on May 31 ... for June. You gotta' admit, I can use it for June. I was kind of surprised and it did sort of make me smile to see this note in my box. Honestly, I don't know if they send this to everyone, or if it was printed off a printer to look hand-written, but I don't care. It made me feel good. It felt personal. So, what was in the box?

I do love pajamas, so I was sent Pajama Drama Tank wth Lace Trim, Grey. I am always good for a pajama/lounge piece and this will go well with some pants I received in another box a month or so ago.This is really soft and comfortable. Can't go wrong with a tank in my book.Retail $21, My price to keep $13.12

And, I still love pajamas. so the box also included Dreamwave Pajama Drama Ruffle Trim Short and Tank. I saw this in another review and the reviewer thought the cute little side ruffles would be annoying. I don't think so. I think the ruffle is cute and it doesn't bother me at all. I am glad to have short pajamas for the hot, sticky summer months ahead. Retail $14.00 X2, My price to keep $8.75 X2

And, let's not forget that I listed Socks as an item I love on my style profile. And, I really like colors and stripes. I don't get to wear them in my work uniform, but can sneak them in sometimes in scrubs on days I'm not at work. I will never complain about the Ozone UPC Stripe Socks. Retail $15. My price to keep $9.38. 

My verdict? I admit I was on the fence about the box at first. Could I really justify $40 ($36 if I keep everything from the month before) for intimates that I don't really "need." But, I've been pleased and will keep going. Yep, I think it's worth it. The value of this shipment was $64 and I paid $36.

Little Lace Box Serendipity May 2015

You may have read my reviews of Little Lace Box before. I really like this subscription because it is different from others. All boxes are curated around a theme and you can really tell the three sisters that designed this company put a lot of themselves in each package. They exploded and had a few growing pains in the past few months. They handled them in an amazing way. They made an announcement in April, that they were going to a bi-monthly subscription, but that current subscribers would get a little surprise in May ... what a surprise it was!!!

In the process of searching for items for their curated boxes, they come across items that just don't fit the theme, but that they love and want to share. So ... the luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things ...found itself as the Serendipity pouch. The Serendipity pouch will be sent on the months that the Little Lace Box is not. The cost of the subscription is $9.99 per month. While they are working out the kinks, the sisters are sending this to current subscribers for free. It's these things that really show the personal touch, and that they really care, that make all the difference. And, all the products and related items are available on the website.

First in the  pouch, was a set of Ofra Cosmetics products. I have only learned about Ofra recently in subscription boxes. Ingredients are natural, organic, plant-based and animal friendly (which makes me happy). Although not strictly vegan as color tints often have an insect base, but I'm not as worried about insects for some reason. Maybe because they aren't as cute and cuddly (except bees and silkworms, I care about them). I have actually tried the eyebrow pencil ... and I don't usually use an eyebrow pencil and was impressed with the way it shaded my red (thin) eyebrows pretty naturally. The lip gloss is dark plum and I like it. I have always been a little dark. I haven't used the lip liner because I'm just scared of lip liners and looking funny.

 Next was Bella Ink hand-made greeting card. I really like hand-made cards so this will be in my rotation.

And finally, Brode Electrolye Vitamin. I keep thinking I'll give this a try for a long run or bike day. I am always looking for a good balance. But, I have to admit, I'm not sure I will notice a difference with a single use. Worth a try though. 

So, what do I think? Well, what a nice surprise it was!!! I love the name. I love the idea. I love that for now it's free. And, with a value of $46.90, even if I had paid for it, I would have felt like I got a great deal. I have been won over and will remain loyal to Little Lace Box and Serendipity for a long time. 

P.S. They announced the August theme for Little Lace Box. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. They don't usually give spoilers, but they will be giving hints on their Facebook page. I can't wait and I haven't even received June.