so this is normal?

Happy Monday, everyone! We had the best weekend - it was just about normal as it's supposed to be. 

CR did have to work Friday night into Saturday, so I went shopping while he caught up on some sleep Saturday morning. Besides a striped Madewell sweater and belt, I didn't really find anything I loved except some pretty flowers at Trader Joes. I did stock up on some of my "must have" items though, including two of my favorite camis (I seriously wear them under everything!), my favorite bra (on sale, which I'm super excited about), and my favorite mascara and Stila eyeliner. I also bought the Complexion Rescue, so I'm excited to finally try that out after everyone raved about it last week!

When I came home, CR and I did some yard and house work, went out for dinner, and then came home and caught up on a few episodes of Game of Thrones (don't tell me what happened in the finale yesterday!). On Sunday we slept in (no 4 AM alarms!), made breakfast, went on a walk with the dogs, got groceries, napped, and may have watched just a bit more of GoT. 

I know it sounds crazy to be excited about such a basic weekend, but after having spent every single weekend in the library for the past five months, it was so nice to just be normal for once. 

Dress: Target [similar]

Belt: Everlane [exact]

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

Bag: Kate Spade [more options]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]

^ crazy knees :/

try, try again

Do you have clothing in your closet that you consistently don't touch because you had a bad experience with it? I do, and for me it is this dress. In theory, this dress was made for me - black and white, sleeves, polka dot - what's not to love? Well on the two separate occasions I've tried wearing it, I ended up hating it. It came with this horrible slip that fit wrong, and so I have just shied away from it every since. There is nothing wrong with the dress, it's just those two experiences of trying to make it work and having it fail that have left it sitting in the back of my closet since then.

As I'm trying to declutter my closet before I move in May, I've been making an effort to wear some of those less worn items to see if it's me or them. In this situation, it's a me problem, I just didn't have the right undergarments. I purchased one of these slips at Target, and the problem is no longer a problem. Now it just needs to warm up above negative a million so I can wear it with flats and no tights!

Dress: Gap [really cute similar]

Scarf: Banana Republic [exact in grey....tempting!]

Belt: Everlane [exact]

Earrings: c/o BaubleBar [exact]

Tights: Target [exact]

Boots: Franco Sarto [exact]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]

Bag: Kate Spade [save option]

mad mad world

You know what makes the last two weeks of the semester better than it really is? Lots of homemade chili, that all of the snow is gone, and pretty pretty dresses. 

You guys. I love this dress. Whenever I order anything or try things on in stores, I waffle back and forth between liking it or not wanting it. Sometimes I end up liking it after making a few adjustments or trying it with something different, but this dress was instant KEEPING YOU FOREVER. CR says it's very Mad Men, and that solidified the decision to keep it and wear it forever. and ever.

Now if only answering renal physiology questions on an exam was this easy...

Dress: Loft [exact - 50% off with code WRAPIT]*

Belt: Everlane [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 [similar on sale]

Bag: Kate Spade [similar]

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

Earrings: eBay [exact | more colors]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]**

* I sized down, and in a tall

** use code holiday_franish to receive 15% off your order! 

switcheroo

Remember how everything was covered in snow last week? Thanks to a couple of 50+ days, the snow is now gone (forever!....just kidding) and we're back to beautiful weather. I'm sure this little switcheroo won't last long, but boy am I thrilled the warmer weather is here for just a few more days!

Another switcheroo is the outfit I had planned on wearing this day. Since I have another move coming up at the end of May, and that move will lead to probably having to share a closet with a boy, I've been slowly going through my clothes again. I've been pulling out items I haven't worn since I moved here, and putting them on the hook right next to my closet. I leave it front and center for about a week, and if I'm still not reaching for it, it goes into the donate pile. I had this shirt I bought a few years ago out and while in theory I would like it (black, white, geometric), I tried wearing it several different ways and it just didn't feel right anymore, so into the donate pile it went.

My mom and little sister went through my donate pile and took what they were interested in. My mom ended up taking the shirt, and I know she'll wear the hell out of it. Plus if I ever miss it, I can just go borrow it ;)

Blouse: Loft [similar]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Scarf: H&M [similar]

Belt: Everlane [exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]

Shoes: Tory Burch [save | exact]

P.S. Cyber Monday is in full swing. Here are just a few of the best sales ;)

• Kate Spade: 30% off 
• For them: everyone needs more polka dot placemats in their lives
• For you: I love the unique style of this crossbody bag (that is already on sale)
• C. Wonder: 40% off
• For them: a little bubbly for their bubbly
• For you: a personalized necklace that makes me wish I was a gemini 
• DvF: 40% off 
• For them: a studded zip clutch they'll want to go out with
• For you: a dress you'll wear for decades to come - if not now, when? 
• Gap: 40% off everything
• For them: high five gloves will make her the coolest on the playground
• For you: get this sweater that they just re-stocked so we can be twins (I just ordered it!)
• Target: buy one, get one 50% off
• For them: a cozy sweater (that you'll end up buying a second one for yourself!)
• For you: a festive sweater you can wear all winter long
• Loft: 50% off everything
• For them: pearls upon pearls upon pearls 
• For you: soft and embellished - how great would this look under a blazer? Or maybe this dress (which I think is just so beautiful...but I shouldn't...should I?)
• J.Crew Factory: 50% off
• For them: for that biking man of yours (who also likes to look good)
• For you: this dress would look amazing on you, promise
• Nordstrom: up to 40% off sale items
• For them: a cognac purse that would get so much use
• For you: these OTK boots are amazing. Seriously...if I didn't own a pair, these would be on their way to me.

one year ago today: embroidered front tee

A great thing about keeping a semi-regular documentation of my clothes and the life I live in them is looking back to a year ago and seeing what I wore. I very distinctly remember wearing this outfit last year and what was happening at the time. I said a similar thing in my last "one year ago today" post (one that has become my most popular post of all time for some reason) about reflecting on what has happened over the last year. At the point last year I was just finishing core physiology, while at this point now we're almost through most of the major systems. Last year I was coming to terms with a half a decade long relationship ending - this year I'm so thankful for the man in my life. Last year I hated the snow - turns out, that hasn't changed ;)

Tee: J.Crew [factory version currently on sale]

Button-up: J.Crew [exact]

Skirt: J.Crew [exact on sale]

Belt: Everlane [exact]

Tights: Target [exact]

Shoes: Lucky [exact]

Watch: c/o Shopbop [similar]

Earrings: c/o The Pearl Source

P.S. Is anyone interested in participating in a "one year ago" link up? It would be fun to see how you re-wear something you wore a year ago!

via instagram

tights tights baby

After trying to blog during last winters never ending snow storms, I tried this year to have just a little bit of back log of pictures before the snow hit...and boy did it hit yesterday. It went from absolutely no snow on Wednesday to over a foot of snow on Thursday. Yikes. 

I am not at all ready for snow and everything that comes with that - everything taking 5x as long to get to, twelve thousand layers just to take the dogs out, tights. I was going to stop at Target to restock my tights collection yesterday, as well as pick up a skirt slip to wear with cotton dresses like this, but after 45 minutes of driving to get 2 miles down the road, I gave up and went home.

So no tights yet, so if you have any suggestions for your "can't survive winter without" tights, please let me know because I generally stand in front of the tights section with no idea what to buy!

Dress: Old Navy [exact on sale - mine's a tall]

Shirt: Banana Republic [exact]

Belt: Everlane [exact]

Shoes: J.Crew Factory [exact on super sale]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]

Nails: Essie [exact]

Earrings: eBay [similar]

^^ good bye snaggle tooth! Invisalign hopefully starts next week :)

it's a jungle out there

I first saw this dress in the J.Crew catalog in February, and I remember just falling in love with it. Black, white, patterns, and in a flattering cut? Sign me up...once it goes on sale.

While I fully believe in spending a little more for something you know you'll love and wear, I also find it really hard to pay full price for things, especially for most mall clothes that will have a sale within a week. I kept my eye on it on and off for months, but still couldn't justify $100+ on such a unique dress, no matter how much I would wear it. But when I found it in stores this summer for $50 with the 50% off sales + student discount, I was so happy I had waited. Playing the gambling game doesn't always pay off...but sometimes it does :)

Dress: J.Crew [exact on sale with most petites still available]

Cardigan: J.Crew Factory 

Belt: Everlane [exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [save for under $50 | exact]

Purse: Kate Spade [save | splurge]

Shoes: Lucky [exact]

Nails: Butter [exact]

rose city

On Sunday morning we hopped down to Portland. I had checked the weather the night before, and it said it was going to be in the mid 90s, so I happily put on my new (sleeveless) dress, didn't even think about packing a cardigan (because 90 degrees, hello), and jumped on the bus. 12 minutes into being in Portland...and it started to pour. Yeah, that 20% chance of rain was actually 100%, and those 90 degrees were actually 65. Luckily someone was smarter than me and brought his rain coat, and was kind enough (he forced me) to wear it. 

Despite the weather, we had a great time in the city! We did some of the touristy things, and ate at a bunch of great places (brunch at Huckleberries, ice cream at Salt & Straw, dinner at Deschutes Brewery, breakfast at Blue Star Donuts, and lunch at Oven & Shaker). Thank you to everyone for your recommendations - they were excellent :) All of you native Portlanders have such a beautiful city. 

Dress: J.Crew [exact, still on sale with code HOTOUT]

Belt: Everlane [exact]

Shoes: Target [similar]

Watch: Michael Kors [exact]

one year ago today: floral pants

Last night I had an interesting conversation on how much difference a year can make. On Monday we wrapped up our neuroanatomy course, and now we are starting with clinical neuro. I was reading some microbiology for the next block, and told a friend how six weeks ago I wouldn't have been able to understand any of the reasoning behind the anatomy, but now it all comes "naturally". I personally don't feel most days that I'm smarter than I was before, but these kind of situations remind me how much we have learned over the past year. He brought how much has changed in the last year, and the difference a year can make both professionally and personally.

Luckily, I have a very clearly documented past about what I've been doing for almost two years, so I went back to see what I was actually doing one year ago. And I was wearing this outfit, which is one of my least favorites I've posted on the blog. The proportions are all wrong, the pants were too big (and still slightly are, even after tailoring the waist), and it all just didn't feel right. This sparked the idea to do a semi-regular "one year ago today" post, where I re-wear something I wore a year ago, but try to improve or find a new way to wear something. First up, these floral pants. I was unsure at the beginning of the school year if I could get away with printed dress pants, but I think as long as I keep the rest simple, it definitely passes the dress code. 

Overall, I'm at a much better place than I was a year ago. Both personally and sartorially ;) 

Pants: Target [save | beautiful splurge]

Blouse: Everlane [exact]

Belt: Everlane [exact]

Shoes: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Bracelet: c/o Color by Amber [exact]

Nails: Essie [exact]

P.S. 500th post! That's crazy.

core

We are getting closer and closer to being done with "core" - we have one week of this basic science stuff left until we are officially finished with it. Core is basically an intro to all of the difference science we have to know, so it's all about understanding the basics of physiology and pharmacology, the main microbes, immunology, and how genetics/biochemistry work. We've been doing core since the end of October (when we finished anatomy) so on the one hand I'm excited to finally get past the basics. You can only learn so much general information until you are bored. On the other hand, the thought of starting systems is slightly terrifying. Systems just means we learn each body part at a time - for example, for renal you learn all about the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, exc. about the kidneys. So it'll be a lot more relevant to our future careers but there's also a lot going on.

P.S. If you are interested in hearing more about my medical school experiences so far, you can check out an interview I did with Accepted.com here!

Dress: Madewell [exact on sale]

Cardigan: Old Navy 

Tights: Target [exact]

Boots: Franco Sarto [exact]

Belt: Everlane [exact]

Scarf: H&M

And in case you were interested in getting this dress, this is what it looks like alone. I feel it runs true to size but the material has quite a bit of stretch to it as well. 

linking up with wiww and mix and match fashion.