bits & pieces

I found a new colored wall! Being a blogger in a small city is not the easiest - unlike those in bigger cities, we don't have any cute buildings, notable backgrounds, or pretty houses to stand in front of here. I found this blue building recently though, and was SO excited to finally have something new for the background.  I love the way it makes my new Loft blouse (which, btw, is currently on sale + 40% off + free shipping!) pop. I feel so bloggery! ;)

I'm currently on my second 24 hour call within the last week. Labor and delivery is all about the waiting game - we have a few ladies in labor, but we won't have a baby for hours. Until then, it's all about reading and doing practice questions...and finding snacks in between. 

Blouse: Loft [exact on sale]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 [very similar for < $20]

Bag: Mulberry via eBay [save | exact]

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]

...and since Loft currently has such a great sale (40% off everything + free shipping on any order!), here are a few of my picks. Their new stuff is so freaking cute, I just want one of everything. My favorites include that coral lace dress and the espadrilles, and notably, it looks like they brought back that chambray blazer that I own, and now in extended petite/tall sizing (here's how I've worn it in the past!). 

one | two | three

four | five | six

seven | eight | nine

the "I have nothing to wear" uniform

There are some outfit posts that I'm really excited to share with you guys, and to be honest, it usually involves a new piece of clothing. Blogging can really make you believe you constantly have to show new! exciting! things! all the time. But my blog revolves around my life (instead of the other way around), so many of my outfits don't always have new things to show. 

Mixing and matching what you have is harder than just wearing a new item, but I think for just about all of us, we mix and match the items in our closet way more than we wear new items. I think that's why sometimes we all stand in front of our closets and say we "have nothing to wear", when in reality, we have a ton of clothes, we're just not excited about wearing any of them. On those days, I personally will default to one of my uniforms. On this day, I defaulted to my pencil skirt + blouse (this Loft version is one of my favorites) + pendant necklace uniform. Is it the most exciting thing you have ever seen on this blog? Probably not, but it is my answer to the whiny statement of "I have nothing to wear!".

Blouse: Loft [same style]

Skirt: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 [similar for <$20 | more options]

Shoes: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Bag: Mulberry via eBay [save | exact]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]

summer fever

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?

Top: Boden [exact]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 [similar]

Belt: Gap [similar]

Shoes: Banana Republic [exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]

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. 

one | two | three | four

profesh

This is my third clinical rotation, and with each rotation so far this year, I've had different clothing requirements. On my first rotation, family medicine, I worked in a very casual environment where I had the choice of scrubs or business casual, no white coat. On my second rotation, general surgery, I was in scrubs all day everyday. Now on ENT, where I spend only two mornings in the week in scrubs, I'm in my most professional office setting yet. I wear a white coat every day, which is the first time I've really had to wear it consistently with professional clothing. 

I have found that I wear less layers because of the constant white coat, so last week when I knew I was going to spend half the day in lecture, sans white coat, I broke out my chambray blazer. I paired it with this new top I got a few weeks ago, and it ended up being the perfect outfit for both parts of the day. During lecture I was comfortable in our very high air conditioned library, and then later during the day, I was comfortable with just the top under my white coat. 

Next rotation it'll all change again on OB, and the month after that will be another change...a vacation change ;)

Blazer: Loft [similar]

Top: Loft [exact]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 [cute similar]

Shoes: J.Crew Factory [exact on sale]

Watch: c/o Larsson & Jennings [exact]

Bag: Tory Burch c/o Shopbop [exact]

Blazers are the best part of fall (seriously), and some seriously cute ones are currently being rolled out. Blazers are an item I'm always okay spending a little more on, so below are four blazers in several different price ranges. I absolutely love my schoolboy blazers (with a few sizes on major sale), but this new version (in several fun colors) looks just as flattering. 

one | two

three | four

fran versus fur: lucy's green pendant

Growing up, I was super allergic to cats - I couldn't even be around them without being a big sneezy red eyed mess. Over the years, I have somewhat outgrown this allergy, which is convenient since I now live with a cat of my own! Technically she was CR's first but we have since fallen in love and she is mine. Okay fine, she's ours (but mostly mine).

There's been a huge demand for more fran versus fur posts (and by big demand I mean that my friend Kira keeps reminding me to do more) so here we are, wearing one of my favorite pieces of jewelry. I don't like much at Forever 21, but they did good with this necklace - it's probably my most worn piece of costume jewelry! Lucy and I both have a love for stripes, so we decided it was the perfect way to wear one of my favorite necklaces. We want to know...who wore it better?

who wore it better?

Lacy! Stripes just look better on her.

Fran...but just because I feel bad for you.

pollcode.com free polls

Blouse: Loft  [similar grey]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 

Watch: Michael Kors [slimmer version on sale]

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

twirl

If you've been following this blog for any period of time at all, you will have noticed that I tend to stick to a three looks. Ankle pants + blouse. Pencil skirt + tee. Fit and flare dress, belted. Mix in a few blazers, cardigans, and sweaters, and that's what I wear. I'm very picky about how things look on my body, which is why I don't really branch out from what I know works on me. There are so many things I'd love to look good on me - slouchy tops with skinny jeans. Off the shoulder dresses. Strapless anyything. But I hate being uncomfortable and I don't want look broader/bigger than I am, so I stick with my outfit formulas that work.

That being said, I've really tried over the last year just to branch out a little bit. I don't always want to stick to my "rules", which is why I kept this skirt after trying it earlier this year. I was a bit hesitant because I thought it gave me a weird hip shelf, and I didn't want it to cut me off weird, and what do you even wear with it?

But you know what? I looooooooooove it. I'm seriously in love with this skirt. Is a mid-length circle skirt really ground breaking? Nope. But for a girl who is very set in her sartorial ways, it was kind of exciting to try something new.

Plus it's fun to twirl in too :)

Tee: Ann Taylor [similar]

Skirt: Banana Republic [exact - more options below]

Necklace: Forever 21 [gorgeous similar]

Belt: Gap [very similar]

Bracelet: gift from my friend Lizzi [similar on sale]

Shoes: Frye [exact on sale]

Lipstick: Nars [exact in Roman Holiday]

and because my skirt is only left in a few sizes, here are eight fun options:

one | two | three | four

five | six | seven | eight

P.S. one of my all time favorite outfits of Bri's is this one, and I apparently felt it was time to copy it. It's like she gets me ;)

the "new" favorite

I know that bloggers tend to say "this is my new favorite shirt/dress/shoe" about any new item, but this shirt is seriously my favorite thing right now. I've worn it three times in the eleven days I've owned it - from a post-exam lunch date to a history and physical practical to a few hours at the library.

I'm in the process of writing a post about how to build a cohesive wardrobe because it's the thing I'm e-mailed about most, and one of my biggest tips is finding out exactly what and why you like something, and then buy similar items. For me, my favorite tops in my closet are all like this one - a simple, long-sleeved, non-collared, shirt that either has pretty details, a fun pattern, or a pretty color like this one. They are simple enough that I can wear multiple accessories with it, and they can be worn in a variety of situations. They are the shirts I reach for again and again, so that's why I'm okay saying that this is a "new favorite", because I know I'll wear it...again and again :)

(it was actually 45 degrees this day - but of course the one place with shade for these pictures was the only area with snow!)

Blouse: Loft [exact on sale - mine is a tall medium]

Jeans: Madewell [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 [more options below]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]

Ring: c/o Shopbop [exact]

Shoes: Banana Republic [exact on HUGE sale]

Nails: Essie [exact]

via instagram

I'm all about these longer necklaces right now rather than shorter statement necklaces. While I won't be able to wear them while on rotations, I love how such a simple necklace can make the outfit. Here are a few others currently out there - I just ordered an inexpensive tassel one from Forever 21 and can't wait to receive it!

one | two | three

four | five | six

lub dub

Life has been a little hectic lately.

We officially finished the GI system on Monday - it's been my favorite so far so I'm sad to see it go. I missed getting an A by 3 points (out of almost 400) so I'm fairly disappointed that I was so.close, but didn't quite get there. They say grades don't "matter" in the grand scheme of things, but when you spend so much time working towards it and fall just short, it's always kind of a bummer.

But now we have started cardio...and it's going to be ridiculous the next few weeks. We have a test every week (always on Mondays too, because who needs even half a day off?), with a sprinkling of random tests and practicals all over the place. I'm already dreading all of it.

At least by the end of it I'll know what all the squiggly lines on an EKG mean though - Tracy already informed me that flat line is dead, so at least I'm off to a good start ;)

Blouse: ASOS [similar]

Pants: The Limited [same style - the green is so pretty!]

Necklace: Forever 21 [cute stone similar]

Bag: Madewell [exact]

Shoes:  Banana Republic [exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [save || exact]

On a side note, if you've been eyeing the Madewell Transport Tote, but don't to spend the money on it, this tote from Forever 21 looks very similar in size + shape for a fraction of the cost!

how do you pick out an outfit?

As a person who generally likes to have a plan for everything, I surprisingly rarely plan outfits ahead of time. A few of you have asked me how I put outfits together, if I plan them the night before, and how I get ready in the morning. I wish I had the forethought to really plan that in advance, but to be honest, I rarely think about what I'm going to wear the next day. 

My getting dressed process this morning revolved around how my day was going to play out. We had to be in school for most of the day, so I wanted something I would be comfortable in for seven hours, so nothing too tight or constricting. I've also been making an effort these last few weeks to try to wear more of the items in my closet instead of reaching for the same ten items I usually want to wear (black pants, simple blouse). I've only had the chance to wear this skirt once since I received it, so I pulled it out, and then I basically hold it up to my shirts and see what I think looks good together. It takes a bit of the guess work out of what works together and what doesn't without having to try a bunch of stuff on (and then having to hang it all back up once you decide...or ya know, throwing them on a chair to put away later like I do). I've been really loving this necklace I got a few months ago (it's sold out online but may still be found in stores, although this one is almost identical and still available), and I love how it compliments the greens of the skirt. I choose the black wedges over the nude wedges because I felt it book-ended it all better, having dark on top and bottom.

So that's my getting ready process most mornings! I pick an item, try to figure out what goes with it, and then choose one "special" item, like a necklace or scarf. Definitely not rocket science but it works for me. What's your getting dress routine? Do you lay it out the day before, or like the little bit of anxiety in the morning figuring it all out? ;)

Tee: JcPenney [very similar]

Skirt: c/o Boden [exact on sale]

Necklace: Forever 21 [very similar]

Shoes: J.Crew Factory [exact on sale]

Watch: Michael Kors [cute save | exact]

Ring: BaubleBar [exact]

Nails: OPI [exact]

the beginning of the end

Today is my last first day of classroom school....EVER. It was surprising to me how fast first year ended, so my plan for this school year is to treasure the last year of "free time" - this will be the last time when I have control over most hours of my day. After that, good bye self-made schedule! 

We are starting school with GI, which was my favorite section in anatomy last year so I'm excited to learn about it more in depth. I'm still continuing with my bone research, and I may also work as an anatomy TA, so this is going to be a busy fall semester!  

Blouse: ASOS [exact with more pop-backs]

Skirt: Anthro via eBay [similar below]

Necklace: Forever 21 [exact]

Belt: Gap [exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [exact]

Shoes: Banana Republic [save | exact]

Purse: Kate Spade [similar]

Nails: Essie [exact]

all my favorite ladies :)

P.S. I was recently interviewed by Abby - check it out here!