Wednesday, September 30, 2015

layering, made easy

DSC09199 Do you guys remember those "layered for you" shirts that were super popular in our middle school/high school days? The ones that had a fake white collar and white sleeves underneath a sweater to make it look like it was layered...but wasn't?

That's what I initially thought of when these new "layered for you" tops came out a few months ago, which made me hesitate at first. Then I saw them on a few people, and kind of loved the simplicity of it. Instead of fake layering a button up under a sweater, I think these are more mixed-media type shirts. I picked up mine at Loft a few weeks ago, and like I've mentioned, I have already worn it a ton of times and have received comments about it every time I've worn it. I think the appeal is that instead of trying to make you believe it's something it's not, these shirts own up to being just two different fabrics. The end result is an effortless "layered" look that doesn't remind you of 2002 ;)
DSC09257
DSC09207
DSC09242
Top: Loft [exact]
Jeans: Madewell [exact style]
Shoes: Converse c/o Shopbop [exact]
Bag: Madewell [save | exact]
DSC09221
DSC09202
Loft has quite a few of these "layered for you" tops currently. I, of course, love the black version - it would look so cute with black pants and bright accessories! 

Still not convinced, and would rather layer your own shirts? Here's my little tip:
via this really old post, when I used to wear blue sweaters over leopard shirts... ;)

Monday, September 28, 2015

september budget

september budget 1

one: Loft blouse (originally $44, on sale for $22)
two: Sole Society purse ($50)
three: Frye flats ($148 + with gift card = $0)
four: J.Crew Factory skirt (originally $78, on sale for $39)
five: J.Crew Factory bow blouse (originally $40, on sale for $20)
six: Old Navy coat (originally $45 + $20 coupon = $25)

September budget: $156

$441 left from August - $156 purchased + $40 sold = $315 left for October

Over the last year, my closet colors have slowly turned into mostly white, grey, black, olive, and cognac, so this month's purchases were no different! I'm super happy with everything I purchased, and love that I can think of a bunch of outfits just by looking at them all together above.

My favorite buy is, of course, the cognac purse - I know it keeps popping in and out of stock, so if you are interested, keep an eye on it. I've been using it every single day! The flats were purchased with a giftcard - my banana republic flats have looked a bit worn and tired after two straight years of wearing them, so it was time to add in another pair to the rotation. These Frye flats have a slight pointed toe, and are very comfortable after only a few minutes of breaking in the leather. I'm also super excited to wear the Old Navy coat I mentioned a few weeks ago - it's in the low 60's in Hamburg, so it is definitely going to get some use when I am there (well...here, since that's where I currently am!). I sized down to a medium to keep it a bit more fitted. 

As always, I like to mention what I added to my closet c/o as a way to stay transparent. This month I was able to pick out a pair of jeans from J.Crew Factory (you can see them here), as well as a pair of Converse from Shopbop

While I have quite a chunk of money left over for October, I don't have a lot of plans for it. I would like to add a few sweaters to my closet, so I'll definitely be on the look out when I'm out and about in NYC. I'd also still like to try this open cardigan from Ann Taylor, if it ever gets a bit cheaper!

Your turn! Feel free to link up below, and as always, please link back to this post so your readers can find other budgeting bloggers :)

Sunday, September 27, 2015

top three [09.27.2015]

so happy it's sweater weather again!

on the internet

spotted

on franish

notable sales

personal
  • It was my birthday on Monday - this year's motto is that 28 is pretty great! CR took me to brunch and to pet giraffes on Sunday, and then we had a low key day on Monday. We then celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, so we had a whole week of birthday fun :)
  • I'm so happy that all the TV shows are back again! Any new ones this season worth checking out? Besides Greys, Modern Family, Scandal, and Mindy, I don't have any other shows I regularly watch. 
  • Today's the day I leave for Germany and Greece! I can't wait to see my family, eat all the food I've missed for the past two years, and see the beautiful island of Santorini. Make sure you follow along on instagram and snapchat (fhasselhof)!

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

denim season

FACTORY MEDIUM MILLER WASH SKINNY JEAN
If there is one thing I miss from my pre-med school life...it's the jeans. I just really love jeans - they are so much more comfortable, versatile, and in my opinion, flattering than dress pants. So when J.Crew Factory offered to let me try out one of their new pairs, I was super excited because...jeans. 

I've had the miller wash skinny jean for a few weeks now, and I'm a bit in love. I find that they run true to size, and stretch out only slightly throughout the day. I went with the 30 inch inseam (they come in 26, 28, and 30) and the classic medium wash - I love that it can both be worn casually (like I did above for a day brunching and going to the zoo), and more dressed up with a button up and blazer. 

On a different note, if you've had your eye on this sole society bag, act quick. I've watched it pop in and out of stock for the past few days! 
DSC09183
'Thalia' Faux Leather Crossbody Bag
DSC09118
Jeans: c/o J.Crew Factory [exact]
Sweater: Joie c/o Zappos [similar]
Bag: Sole Society [exact | slurge]
Shoes: Sperry [exact]
Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]
DSC09108
DSC09153
The new J.Crew Factory denim collection has a whole line of different styles, from skinnies to flares. My favorite pair is the slightly distressed black skinny jeans - they have just the right about of distressing. J.Crew Factory is currently offering an extra 35% off (code SALEUPGRADE) if you've had your eye on anything!


Disclosure: while I received the pair of jeans for free, I was not paid for this post. I just really love the jeans :)

beauty tuesday: my daily make-up routine

daily make up routine for blonds

While I don't talk about it much, I really love make-up. I'm constantly reading reviews online, and playing around with different products. Over the past few months, I've tried a few new products that have become staples for me, so I wanted to share! Here are the products I use on a daily, not-in-the-hospital, basis. I always want my made-up self to look like me, just better ;)

Let me know if you have any questions (and no judging my bare face!).

Primer: Urban Decay
Foundations: Laura Mercier (medium ivory) + BareMinerals (buttercream)
Concealer: Nars (vanilla) + Sephora brush
Powder: Smashbox (light)+ ItCosmetics brush
Bronzer: Bobbi Brown (natural) + Real Techniques brush
Blush: Urban Decay (fetish) + Real Techniques brush
Eye Cream: Charlette Tilbury (marie antoinette)
Eyeliner: Stila (intense black)
Eyeshadow: Stila + Crown brush via Ipsy
Eyebrows: Anastasia (soft brown) + Sephora brush
Eyelash curler: Shiseido
Mascara: Revlon + Too Faced
Lipstick (not filmed): Nars (roman holiday) or Bobbi Brown (pale mauve)

ps. need a new cute makeup bag? how cute are these dogeared bags? one of each please!



Sunday, September 20, 2015

top three [09.20.2015]

my madewell shoes aren't available anymore, but this pair from express is similar (and cheaper!)

medicine
  • Herpes gestationis, now known as gestational pemphigoid, is an autoimmune reaction that causes tense blisters to form. They usually start around the naval and spread out. As if pregnancy isn't uncomfortable enough on it's own - so I'm told ;)
  • If you are hit by a car, you have a higher chance of dying if you are hit while in England/where they drive on the other side of the road. If you are in America, you are more likely to be hit on your left side, which is where your spleen is. If in England, you may injure your liver. You can live without a spleen, but not without a liver. 
  • Statistically, patients with schizophrenia are more likely born in the winter months. Several hypotheses exist for this correlation, including lack of vitamin D or the increase in viral infections during the winter. 

on the internet

spotted

on franish

notable sales

personal
  • I mentioned that Sole Society/ Chloe look alike purse a few weeks ago, and finally decided to order it. It's SO CUTE in real life. I can't wait to use it this month - it's large enough to hold my camera, it looks like real leather, and is just so darn pretty. It looks like the cognac is sold out, but the black is still available if you've been looking for a new crossbody bag!
  • I met up with two of my three best medical school friends and it was SO NICE to be back together. We had brunch, and then just sat around catching up for several hours. Why can't we all live close together?
  • OB is officially over now, and I'm already looking forward to my next rotation in it in March. Now I have a month of vacation, and I've basically planned out every single day until I start back with pysch in a month. First up: celebrating my birthday tomorrow by spending the day in Pittsburgh :)

Friday, September 18, 2015

day in the life: OBGYN

As always, some details and times have been changed :)



5:25: Time to wake up! I check my phone, send CR a good morning text, and quickly jump in the shower.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

put a bow on it

j.crew factory bow blouse So... I couldn't really wait to wear my new shirt :)

Today was actually my last day in dress clothes for a while! My last two days on this rotation are on the labor and delivery floor (so scrubs and my comfy birks it is), and then after that, I start my vacation! While I truly love being on my rotations, I've been looking forward to (and saving up for!) this block of time for over a year. I'm kind of going to be all over the place during this time - a wedding in upstate New York, Germany to see my grandma, Santorini with my family, and then NYC to stay with one of my closest college friends. I can't wait :)

FACTORY ROLLED-SLEEVE TEE WITH BOW DSC09044
DSC09080
Blouse: J.Crew Factory [exact on sale + an extra 30% off]
Pants: The Limited [exact]
Shoes: Madewell [save | exact]
Bag: Coach [similar]
Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]
DSC09073
FACTORY ROLLED-SLEEVE TEE WITH BOW
J.Crew Factory currently has a sale for an extra 30% off everything with the code EXTRA30. My bow top comes to just over $25 (my review of it is here). Below are a few other cute items available - I'm majorly crushing on the amelie flats after seeing them on Jess!



Monday, September 14, 2015

review: a few j.crew factory finds

I recently found out that there is an outlet store just a short drive away from my hospital, so when J.Crew Factory was having a 50% off sale over Labor Day, I thought it would be a good time to try on a few things I've had my eye on since it would easy to do returns. 
FACTORY ROLLED-SLEEVE TEE WITH BOW
First up is this cute little bow top. I was hesitant about ordering it because the picture online makes it look super boxy, but I loved it so much that I wanted to try it. I'm glad I did because it is so darn cute in real life. I'm wearing a large, and find that it runs true to size. While it does have a bit of a dropped shoulder, I didn't even really notice it as I would if it were a sweater. As you can see above, it is a bit sheer. I wear an express cami under just about everything so this isn't an issue for me, but worth mentioning. I paid $20 for it, which I think is a fair price for this shirt. I'm excited to wear it both to work or on dates.
FACTORY SHAWL-COLLAR CARDIGAN SWEATER
Next is their shawl collar cardigan. I had high hopes for this sweater, but it unfortunately didn't live up to my expectations. First of all, it's very big - I'm wearing my usual large here, and I was swimming in it. Second, I didn't love that the shawl cut off about six inches from the bottom. It's a cute sweater in concept, but I just didn't love it in person. I actually originally wanted it in grey (which quickly sold out before I could order it), and really ordered it in blue to see how it fit in hopes that the grey came back, so this isn't that big of a disappointment. 
FACTORY HERRINGBONE CHECK FLANNEL SHIRT
Next is another shirt that in theory I would like, but it just didn't work out for me. I was looking for a soft and cuddly shirt for when the temperatures drop - in my head I would pair it with jeggings, boots, and a vest. In real life, I found that the fabric of their herringbone check shirt was a bit more cotton than a thick flannel, and that it ran quite large and boxy (I'm wearing a large here). The more I thought about it, even if it had fit me better, I couldn't really think of different ways to wear it, so it is being returned. I would at some point in the future like to try the J.Crew flannel boyfriend shirt instead - it seems a bit more versatile in colors, plus the reviews praise it's comfiness. 
FACTORY LONG MERINO V-NECK CARDIGAN SWEATER WITH BUTTONS
Over the past year, I have removed all my "normal cardigans" (button up, to be layered with other tops) from my closet for various reasons - holes that couldn't be fixed, colors I didn't wear, or dryer accidents that couldn't be reversed. I love cardigans though, so I've been looking for replacements for a while now. My former favorite cardigan had merino wool in it, and I think that that helped it keep its shape more than 100% cotton cardis (I find they always look really bunched up on me - anyone else have that problem?). The new long merino cardigan sounded promising, and while normally almost $80, the price wasn't as bad at $40. I'm wearing a size large, and I think it's just a bit too large on me, mostly in the arms. I don't want to stick it in the dryer to shrink it (I've made that mistake before!), so I'm hoping to try this one on in a medium. 

FACTORY CREPE PENCIL SKIRT
Last up is the crepe pencil skirt. The two plain pencil skirts I own are both the wool #2 pencil skirts, so I don't ever wear them in the warmer months (I've tried...and promptly changed). I've been looking for a cooler option, but never really found a winner. The cotton version of the #2 pencil skirt, more so than the wool version, wrinkle very easily. I also found most to be too tight in the booty, which always makes me a bit self conscious. The crepe material of this skirt is the perfect solution to these problems - it skims without clinging, and the material is basically wrinkle-proof. I was debating sending the skirt back because we are just now getting back to the temperatures where I can wear my wool skirts again, but I got a good deal on a skirt that I know I will wear a ton in the coming years. So while I may only wear it a few more times this year, I have many years of clinic time ahead during warmer months. As far as sizing goes, I found this runs true to size (I'm wearing my normal 12 here). It hits about one inch above my knee. Also: side pockets that don't bulge! Triple win.



Sunday, September 13, 2015

top three [09.13.2015]

stripes, green necklaces, and looking at the ground...some things never change ;)

medicine
  • Dizygotic twins are twins that are formed when two eggs are fertilized by two sperm during the same cycle. Monozygotic twins are formed when a zygote splits into two embryos. Conjoined twins are monozygotic twins that split too late.
  • 6,000 women reach menopause every single day. 
  • My sister Viktoria is a med student in Germany. She has the biggest heart, and is fundraising money to help a young patient she met during her urology rotation. If you have a few extra dollars in your paypal account, and want to find out how you can help, read her latest post about it here (it's at the bottom)

on the internet

spotted

on franish

notable sales

personal
  • This week I got to close my first c-section! I'm lucky that our attendings are such great teachers, and allow us to practice these skills under their watchful eye. Now I just need to work on not being so nervous!
  • This is my last week on OB. I can't believe how fast this rotation has gone by! I spent probably 14 hours at the hospital most days and I would have stayed longer. I have really loved my experience there this month, and am so happy that I am on the service again in March. 
  • The temperatures dropped this weekend and it was amazing. We spent Saturday cuddled up on the couch, watching football, and eating mac and cheese. The best :)

Thursday, September 10, 2015

what's in my white coat?

what's in my white coat Now that I'm about a third of the way through my third year, I've become quite used to wearing my white coat all the time. While it changes with every rotation, here are the things I lug around with me every day:

one: I generally wear less make up on my rotations (mostly because I'm really lazy at 5:30 in the morning), but this Dior chapstick gives me a little color and keeps my lips moisturized in the dry hospital air. It also lasts a realllllly long time.

two: an iphone/tablet is every doesn't-know-this-drug medical student's best friend. My favorite apps include UpToDate, Epocrates, Lab Values +, and QxCalculate. I also keep the UWorld app on there so I can do practice questions during down time. And for those rotations that have quite a bit of down time (like my current rotation where I'm waiting for the babies to be ready to be born), a backup phone charger is a must. 

three: we received stethoscopes from our school during our white coat ceremony, and I may have played a little stethoscope merry go round so I could have a red version. I prefer to keep mine in my pocket most of the time, unless I'm on a rotation like family medicine where I didn't wear a white coat.

four: this little reference book was possibly the best $5 I've ever spent. It's 20 small pages, with the information grouped based on type, and is great for...referencing. I use it mostly for the lab values, but also have used a few of the extra pages to keep track of how to read EKGs. 

five: we have a morning of lectures every other week, and the information presented is always super applicable, so I keep a small notebook in my pocket at all times. These Moleskine notebooks are thin enough to not take up a bunch of room in my pockets, plus they are kind of cute ;)

six: this folding clipboard was actually an early birthday present from CR. We've both seen a ton of residents use them, so he figured right before we both started our three months of internal medicine it would be a good time to buy some of our own. This would have been great to have during surgery as well, when we were writing information and future orders on our patient lists throughout the day, and often don't have a desk to write on. 

seven: SNACKS! I'm someone who needs to eat (duh). It's hard during some rotations that aren't based around a normal schedule, so there were certain days on surgery where I didn't get a meal between 5 AM and 6 PM. Pocket snacks were the only thing that kept me going. My BFF Caitlin sent me a package of peanut butter packets, and they were an absolutely lifesaver. Other pocket snacks have included turkey sticks and quest bars. When I'm on rotations where I have easy access to my bag, I usually bring a couple of hard boiled eggs and vegetables too. I also keep mints in my purse to freshen up afterwards ;)

eight: I love (LOVE) office supplies, so I'm constantly trying out new pens. My favorite pen for the last two years has been the Tul needlepoint pens. While pricey, I find that makes me keep track of them so much more. I haven't lost a single one yet!

nine: just a simple pocket flashlight that also has a handy little chart on the side of pupil diameters. 

So that's it! If any of you have suggestions for other things to stuff into these pockets, I'd love to hear them!

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

summer fever

DSC08462 Although we are only 14 days away from fall (I only know this because my birthday is the last day of summer!), it looks like summer just decided to show up around here! Besides that tiny break of cool weather a few weeks ago, it has been in the high 80s/low 90s for weeks now, and I'm so ready for it to finally cool down. All I want to do is wear the wool skirts, jeans, and sweaters in my closet - I'm so sick of my warm weather clothes! Anyone else have a bit of "summer fever" now that we're close to the cooler temps? Or you happy to keep the warmer weather around?
DSC08486
Top: Boden [exact]
Pants: The Limited [exact]
Necklace: Forever 21 [similar]
Belt: Gap [similar]
Shoes: Banana Republic [exact]
Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]
DSC08454
Besides jeans and blazers, the best part about fall clothing is the scarves. Forever 21 has some really cute ones out currently - I just ordered the camel one, but the colorblocked version is very similar to the popular Zara scarf from years past. 



Sunday, September 6, 2015

top three [09.06.2015]

it's almost cool enough to wear my favorite slip on shoes!

medicine
  • This week during my day in the clinic, I learned all about pessaries. A pessary is a plastic device that fits into the vagina, and is used to support the uterus or bladder. It's often used for urinary incontinence or uterine prolapse.  Here are a few pictures of current day pessaries - but there is quite a history of different methods used in previous centuries. 
  • This week was also the week I saw the inside of a uterus during a hysteroscopy (using a scope to look at the inside of the uterus). I was surprised to see what it actually looks like in there. I always assumed it was a very dark red (based on text books describing cycles) but it's actually soft pink and fluffy
  • Superfetation is when a woman becomes pregnant with a child while already being pregnant with another child. It is extremely rare...but can you imagine?! 

on the internet

spotted

on franish

notable sales

personal
  • It was a long week on OB, with several 14+ hour days, but it was so worth it. I delivered my first baby, first assisted in a c-section, and watched several interesting surgeries including an open hysterectomy for a giant fibroid uterus. I never thought I'd say this, but I think I'm really going to miss the surgeries once I start the next group of rotations!
  • Almost 10 years ago, I rebelled against my parents' advice and got a tattoo, a little star on my left wrist. Over the years, it, and the meanings behind it, have faded, so I've decided to remove it. I had my first dermatologist appointment last week for the first laser session. It hurts! But I'm hoping in two more sessions, that it will all be gone. 
  • I just found out that I can order my favorite German candy on Amazon. So it's basically the best week ever. 

Friday, September 4, 2015

madewell's 'the transport weekender' review

Madewell The Transport Weekender Review I have wanted a leather weekender bag for the longest time. I love the classic look of them, and the fact that they will always get better with time. With a few trips coming up this year, plus quite a bit of traveling next year for interviews, I figured now was as good as time as any to get one. I had saved up some Shopbop credits, and pulled the trigger on the Madewell Transport Weekender Bag (no longer available at Shopbop). You guys know how much I love the Transport Tote - I've had it for over three years, and still use it almost every day - so I was excited to get something that I knew I was really going to use and love just as much. 

I used the bag for the first time two weekends ago, and it was the perfect size for a three day trip. I had four different outfits, a pair of wedges, and all of my personal items in there, with room to spare. The bag itself is surprisingly deep - I was worried at first that it wouldn't fit everything (which is why I initially left the tag still on it!), but was pleasantly surprised by how roomy it is. I plan on using this for my five day trip to NYC in October as well, now that I know how much it can hold. 

The leather is of course beautiful, and so soft. It has two top handles, and a shoulder strap. If you buy it through the Madewell site, I highly recommend paying the $10 for the monogram! It's the one regret I have, since I didn't by it directly through Madewell. The inside is lined (unlike the transport totes), has one larger zip pocket on one side, and two smaller open pockets on the other side. 
Overall, $300 is a lot of money for a bag that I'll use a half a dozen time a year - but the quality of the bag means that I use it for years and years and years. If you are looking for a genuine leather weekender bag, I would recommend this one to anyone. 


top / bag c/o Shopbop / shoes

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

baby fever


I'm in the middle of my second week in OB, and it has been my favorite favorite favorite rotation so far. I always thought I would go into OB - I'm very interested in women's health, I love babies, and I've always surrounded myself with amazing women in both my personal and professional life, so OB seems like a perfect fit for me. Yesterday I got to deliver my first baby - from the first push to the clamping of the cord (with doctor assistance during the most important parts, of course). It was an absolutely amazing experience. 

I've found myself getting emotional while being present for the births of these babies. I've never watched/participated in medical procedures before where I saw myself as the patient. I've never had to have bowel surgery, and I've never had to have someone explore my sinuses, nor have I wanted to. But I do want to have babies of my own, so while these women are giving birth, I often think about my own future birth experience, or if I will ever even get to have that. It may sound strange, but I've always thought I will have a really hard time getting pregnant. I'm scared that by the time it's the "right" time (if there's such a thing) to start trying to have a baby, it won't work. So I see these amazing women having these adorable babies, and having it be something I know I'll so desperately want eventually, I get a bit emotional. Not that I'm crying while these ladies are in labor! I just think about it a bit more now that I am around it 8-16 hours a day. 

Maybe that's normal - other med students talk about getting "baby fever" all the time while on their OB rotation, and I think that's to be expected. Many of us in medicine put off things that others are doing at our age. None of my friends are married. Most definitely none of us have babies. I know all of my girlfriends struggle with that sometimes, and maybe it's not pointed out to us as much as it is when we are helping to birth someone else's baby. 

But I have a feeling that this month, and my second month of OB in the spring, will be my absolute favorite months of the year, baby fever aside ;)
DSC08231
DSC08284
Blouse: Loft [similar]
Pants: The Limited [exact]
Shoes: Ferragamo c/o Shopbop [same styles]
Belt: The Limited [similar]
Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]
DSC08260
DSC08286