Who: Amy & I

What: Escape to Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett's Broadway jukebox musical

When: October 2019

Where: National Theatre, Washington, DC

Why: I'm not ready for summer to end!

Thoughts:
I may or may not have rolled my eyes when I first heard this show would be on Broadway. I'm not that familiar with Jimmy Buffett and didn't have high overall expectations of the show...at least not enough to give it a try on the Big White Way.

I figured the touring version was worth giving a try and am happy to say it exceeded my (admittedly low) expectations! Simply put, it's a fun, happy ... "escape" show! There's lots of funny one liners, easy to follow storylines, and audience participation is encouraged (AKA it's totally fine to sing along)! They also managed to sneak in one of my favorite things...a tap number!

It's not too late to grab your flip flops and enjoy your own Escape to Margaritaville...it's still in DC at the National Theatre through October 13!

Congrats to our ticket winners!

Between blogs and opportunistic Facebook ads, I thought I'd heard of every styling service out there. When the e-mail invitation came to try a style box from FabFitFun, I was surprised. I had no clue this was a thing! Since they waived the styling fee for the first box and ebates Rakuten was offering cash back, I figured it was worth a try to see how they'd style me and how the overall goods and experience compares to other style boxes, notably Stitch Fix which has become my personal favorite.

Pros:

Cons:

Here's what they sent me:

It's green! And so cheap! I was in love with this right away. According to the stylist's note, each box has a "bonus" item at a lower price point, and this was the one. Kept.

This was super comfy but not my style at all. I avoid tie front tops, and honestly, this shirt felt pretty flimsy for $46, more like something you'd grab from Walmart. Returned.

These are Kut From the Kloth, another brand I've received from Stitch Fix, and they fit like a dream. Their denim is pricier than I'm used to, but so amazingly comfortable. I would have kept these, but I realized during try on that the pair was damaged. Since I can't request an exchange at checkout, I'm currently waiting on a reply from customer service to find out how to proceed.

This was so thick, soft, and comfortable! I'd happily sleep in it. Returned only because I don't need another black cardigan right now.

I polled all these pieces on Instagram and these earrings got a unanimous yes from everybody! Funny, because I knew right away that these weren't my style and I wouldn't be keeping them. It was fun to see what you guys thought, though!

As far as first boxes go, this one is the best I've received. 4 of the 6 items were ones I'd have at least tried on in a store, and nothing had me thinking "why on earth would they even send me that?". Everything fit and I feel like they understood my personal style. I appreciated the range of brands and price points. While the process is not as robust as Stitch Fix, I think it's worth a second try. What do you think - should I go for it?

Who: Amy & I
What: Disney's cash cow, Frozen, now on Broadway
When: August 2019
Where: St. James Theatre, New York
Why: Even though I think the film is overrated, it's a good one and I was excited to see Broadway's take on the story.



Thoughts:
My most common complaint about live theatre is that I am the youngest person in attendance.

Surprise! Not the case with Frozen.

Disney expected this and planned accordingly. The show is a mere 2 hours to keep young attention spans, and a pre-show announcement welcomes the kiddos, encouraging them to make Frozen their first of many Broadway shows. YES.

Brevity aside, this is exactly what you would expect from a Disney on Broadway show. You have your original story and songs with a few small tweaks and a handful of new songs. Younger audience members will be excited by the former (brace yourselves for kids trying to sing along), while the latter is what made the show memorable for me. I've had "Dangerous to Dream" from the cast recording stuck in my head for days!

The most notable difference for me was a change in Kristoff's character, which made a lot more sense to me. Combine that with some relatable new songs and a magical snowfall at the end, and you've got a signature Disney experience.

It's a fun show and it will stick around as long as there are kids begging to go and parents who can afford their admission. While it's not nearly as elaborate as neighboring Disney on Broadway hits The Lion King and Aladdin, it hits the mark in welcoming new theatre goers to Broadway and is still a charming experience. Just be prepared for an antsier audience.