lists on lists

 

A list!

1. I need a new black cardigan. This one from Old Navy was originally like...$15, and while it's held up fine over the last two years, it is starting to pill and fall apart. I don't really like the way it sits anyway, so I think it's time to maybe buy up just a little bit. Anyone have a go-to for cardigans? I don't really like the J.Crew versions (they look too short and I want a v-neck) but this one from Banana Republic is actually really cute and has just enough going on to not be boring, but would be really versatile.  

2. I still need to find a winter jacket. I kinda donated most of my old coats before I moved, so all I really have is my trench coat or my giant North Face. I need something as an in between that I can use for most normal school days. I ordered this one from Zara but it's just a little bit too much. This one from Target looks like a toned down version for a third of the price so I may order a few just to test out.

3. Only two days of biochem left! Want to know what cramming 800 pages of biochem into your head in two weeks feels like? Awful. It feels like awful.

4. Shout-out to Percy's sister! Her brother, a kid in my class, came up to me the other day after school to tell me that his sister reads my blog. Did I want to die a little bit inside? Yes. But it was also very sweet :)

5. The Jeweler's Wife sent me these beautiful Swarovski earrings to test out. Aren't they beautiful? They are currently running a giveaway over on Jess's blog so make sure you enter!

Shirt: Francesca's

Cardigan: Old Navy

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Earrings: Swarovski c/o The Jeweler's Wife [exact]

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

who knows about your blog?

 

This was one of those outfits that I didn't really plan ahead on, but it was the day I received the most compliments about my outfit (it must be my awesome "carpet" shoes!). 

It was also the day one of my lab mates (CHRIS - yes, my lab partners name is the same as my boyfriends. Their birthdays are also a day apart. It makes it complicated when I'm talking to my girlfriends) decided it was time to let everyone around us know about my blog. The conversation went like this:

Girl in my class: I really like your shoes Fran!

Chris: YOU CAN GO READ IT ON HER BLOG, IT'S CALLED FRANISH, GO READ IT:

All boys around: YOU HAVE A BLOG?!?!? WHERE IS IT, I WANT TO UPLOAD IT TO REDDIT

It's weird, because he makes a good point about the fact that I don't care if all of you read my blog, but I don't want any one in real life to know about it. I think the big thing is that you guys read because you "get" blogging - outfit inspiration, reading about people's lives, talking about shopping. But to a bunch of medical students it might seem like just about the weirdest thing you can do. I kept blogging a secret from everyone for at least a month after I moved here, and then told some of my closer girlfriends, who think it's awesome (you'll meet them on here in the next few days!), but never intended for it to really get out to others. And especially not to boys! 

If you blog, how many people know about it? Do you tell everyone, or keep it all to yourself as your little secret?

Shirt: Gap [similar for a steal]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Scarf: Victoria's Secret 

Shoes: Gap [exact | amazing splurge] 

september budget

1. Sole Society Whitney Pump [seen here]: originally $65, with giftcard: $0
2. Forever 21 Cardigan [seen here]: $28
3. H&M Blouse [seen here]: $35
4. Gap Ponte Pants: originally $70 + 35% off + rewards + giftcard from Audrey: $1
5. JC Penneys Striped Tee [seen here]: $15 + 10% off code: $13
6. The Limited Skinny Pants [seen here]: originally $70 + 40% off = $42
7. J.Crew Factory Sylvia Wedge [seen here]: originally $120 + 40% off + 15% student discount: $60
8. Forever 21 Sleek Button Down: $18

= $197

= $500 quarterly budget - $120 in August - $197 in September = $173 left for October

This month was a big month of "staples" for me. I've worn the wedges, the striped tee, the maroon pants, and the sweater at least 5-10 times each since I bought them, and I don't really see that changing any time soon. I just really really like each of the pieces! I haven't received the pants from the Gap yet, but included them here anyway in hopes that they work out - I'll be sure to review them when they come since several of you seemed interested in them. I had also purchased this ring in black ($40 was with the remaining gift card from Nordstrom) but I will be returning it to wait for the next size up to come back into stock because I want to wear it on my middle finger and the current size is too small.

This whole quarterly budget thing is working out pretty well - I'm mostly still trying to stick to around $150 a month just to not get too carried away. Like I mentioned a few days ago, I received $100 from my grandma for my birthday, so I'm hoping to use that to buy a pair of black boots. Several of you suggested this pair, so I will try to see if I can't get my hands (or feet- har har) on them! I'm still itching for a pair of navy ankle pants, and many of you have said that you really like these pants from Banana Republic, so I may order some the next time they have a really great promotion going on. For those of you who have them, how do they run? Did you get the regular or the tall sizing (if you are taller)? I also would like to try on this blouse that I saw on instagram here. Other than that, nothing is really planned for the remaining budget as I feel pretty good about where I am right now. School will be changing for me again at the end of October when we are finished with anatomy - I won't have to be in lecture as often/as many days a week so I don't really want to jump the gun on buying things I may or may not actually wear.

During last month's post, Elaine asked if I could include the pieces I receive from companies as a part of my budget posts, and I think that's a really great idea. If I'm going to say that I'm on a budget, and portray the financial goals of someone on a "budget", the the pieces I receive for free as a sidekick from blogging should be included as it gives a more well-rounded idea of what is actually going into my closet. This month I was given the opportunity to review an Everlane tee, wear a fun polka dot scarf from Surfdome, wore and gave away a bracelet from Color by Amber, and received a ring, earrings, and two necklaces from Tryst Jewellery.

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As a side note, I purchased a pair of Joe's Jeans from eBay a few months ago, which turns out was pretty poor planning on my part. I got them right when I was finishing my job, and there was no way I was going to spend my summer in jeans, and now when I do wear jeans I'm not looking to wear heels with them and just stick to my skinny jeans. If you are interested, I'm selling them for $50 (the price I paid) + shipping - send me an email at fhasselhof(@)gmail.com if you are interested or would like to see pictures! They are a size 32, "Honey" style,  and have (I think) a 35 inch inseam (they are too long on me in flats, and I'm 5'9''+ for reference). They look basically unworn, I just don't think I need to keep them in my closet if I'm not wearing them.

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Okay, your turn! Please let us know how you did sticking to your budget - please make sure you link back to this post so your readers can discover other budgeting bloggers :)

student doctahs - white coat ceremony!

[my friends are so good looking]

These last four days have been a crazy whirlwind of surprises and celebrations. On Thursday, my sneaky sneaky friends threw me a surprise birthday party and they totally pulled it off because I'm completely oblivious. It was amazing, and so sweet of them - I honestly couldn't ask for a better group of friends. We had delicious food (some made by me because I thought we were just having dinner), apple cider, chai cupcakes, and a pinata for me to hit. At one point of the evening, I was walking from my house back to theirs when I ran into my aunt and uncle in the parking lot - they flew over from Germany to surprise me for my birthday! It's not often that I'm speechless but those were two moments within hours of each other.

[uncle, mom, brother, dad, aunt]

My parents and brother flew in on Friday for my white coat ceremony. The day of the ceremony was also my birthday so we had heaps of celebrating to do. We didn't get lucky with the weather for most of the day, so I wore my favorite pants instead of the dress I had planned on wearing. We received our shiny new short coats, and stethoscopes (mine is red, which is the same color that my dad and sister have!). Receiving the coat made it all feel a little bit more real - it sometimes feels like we're just playing school instead of actually becoming doctors.

[my gorgeous roommate]

how hot is my mom?

For my birthday, my aunt and uncles bought me the dirndl I tried on in June - it's like it was made for me! Polka dots, more dots, and it has pockets. Now I just need to find a way to get to Oktoberfest so I can actually wear it somewhere!

My parents got me the most beautiful bag - it's actually the same one my mom has so now we can be twins :) My roommate made me a terrarium, and Hans received a fun new present too - doesn't he look like he loves it?

Overall it was a really great weekend. I'm not one to talk about being blessed all the time, but I feel really lucky to have such a great family and group of friends both in real life and online. Thank you for all of the well-wishes!

best internet friends

 

Necklace: borrowed from Bri

Sweater: Forever 21 [similar]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Shoes: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Bag: Phillip Lim for Target [copycat | original]

Belt: H&M

Are you guys sick of hearing about how much Bri and I like each other? Okay good, me either.

To stay in touch and really incorporate that friendship into the thing that brought us together in the first place, we decided that every month we're going to send each other something from our closets for the other to wear. Our first exchange was necklaces - Bri sent me this beautiful vintage necklace she received from a childhood friend, while I did not send her something nearly as special (looks like I'll have to make up for it next time!). The necklace is truly stunning, and I've never seen anything like it. I already told Bri I'm going to wear it as many times as I can before I have to send it back.

I'm also looking for suggestions from you guys - I'm looking for a pair of pants that are black, are NOT jeans, are to be worn with boots, don't get too saggy but are stretchy, and are actually pants, not leggings [kind of like this]. Any suggestions?

linking up with the pleated poppy

via instagram

happy place

For as much as I cried the days before I left Madison, I feel really content in this new crazy life. 

School is (really really) hard but it's rewarding too. Everything we learn now has a purpose - we have to know this information for life, not just for a test. Although I feel so dumb all the time, I like being able to use my brain again, even if I use it to the point of wanting it to shut off at night instead of dreaming about heart development. 

I love my girlfriends here. My roommate is better than I could have ever anticipated, our closest friends live 40 feet away from us, and I like being around my lab partners so much that I'm willing to go be in a room with just them and 20 dead bodies all by ourselves for hours at a time. I forgot how much I really needed that feeling of having people.

I even like the dress code (most days). Online shopping instead of in store shopping means I get a present in the mail every once in a while. I just found the ring I've been looking for for months, and it's currently in it's pretty box on the way to me. It's like Christmas whenever I get the mail ;)

Of course, there are shitty things about all this. Chris has been on the complete opposite side of the country from me doing away rotations - I'm not really sure when we'll be able to see each other next. My family went on an awesome vacation that included the first wedding in my family since my parents got married 26 years ago, and I couldn't go. I don't get to be around for my sister's last year of high school. I don't have as much time anymore to do all the things I want to do (mostly I just want to binge-watch Scandal). I feel there are never enough hours in the day. My back hurts from the uncomfortable chairs in the lecture hall. 

But overall, life is good. 

Blouse: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Necklace: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

see much, spend little

Labor Day weekend! Shop all the stores, buy all the things.

Or so was my plan. I haven't really done a big shopping trip in quite some time. You know, the kind where your arms hurt from carrying all of your fancy schmany bags around. I tend to buy one piece here and there, but never just in one big trip. With our trip down to a bigger mall, I was hoping to pick up a few exciting things. 

I actually did a little bit of pre-shopping on Friday. I went to our local mall to return the pants I had ordered online at The Limited. My friend Lizzi had found some cute maroon pants online for me to try on, and I ended up liking this pair (on the left) but loving this pair (on the right). The pair on the left are actually full length pants that I just tucked up, but I thought the color was just a little bit too dark, and I didn't want to deal with the alterations. The pair on the right were perfect, and thanks to the 40% off the entire store, were $40. I'm so glad that I didn't decide to keep the J.Crew Minnies, and instead looked for something that fit my body better, and something that I'm more comfortable in because it has normal features like a front zipper and pockets. While looking at pants, I fell in love with the idea of this shirt but I could not justify spending almost $40 (with the sale code) on a polyester shirt where the sleeves didn't stay rolled. The style is beautiful, but the shirt itself is lacking. I've wanted a wrap cardigan in this style for as long as I can remember, so I think that'll be something I really start looking for this fall.

So in the Pittsburg mall I returned the god awful minnie pants at J.Crew, and bought a cute new glitter case there for my phone instead (it was $8!). There wasn't anything in the sale section, or even really the entire store, that I liked. We stopped at Banana Republic since we don't have one at home, but there wasn't anything I really liked which is a bummer since they are having a 40% off sale right now. Everything in the sale section was the cast offs from summer (which is to be expected around this time of year) and everything full priced wasn't worth the full price. 

We also stopped at Gap because I had to return the not-even-going-to-try-it-on shirts in hopes of finding these flats (because I've wanted some just like these for so long, and Audrey just wrote about them), but they were no where to be found. For as much as I usually like the Gap, I am not really a fan of what's currently in store - everything is still bright and neons when I just want some more toned down looks. I have some rewards built up so I think I may just order the shoes during the next good online promotion. I think they'd look great with my new pants ;)

So then more stores were entered and left empty handed. We went to Loft since we thought the entire store was 50% off, but it really was only a select few times which is such a shopping trap. I did try on this shirt initially just to figure out sizing for the orange-red version, but I kind of fell in love with the pattern. Not enough to pay full price for it though, so I'm hoping that it either will go on sale eventually, or that they role it out in a few more colors (as Southern Ele said they may do according to a sales associate she talked to). I think it would be really pretty in an emerald or another jewel tone. I actually tried on a bunch of shirts at Loft and kind of hated all of them. The sleeves were too loose, or didn't roll, or were too flimsy. So that was another bust. 

And then we went to Nordstrom and that's when the shopping gods smiled down upon me and showed me the way to the most perfect pair of shoes ever invented. Or my roommate saw them first and showed them to me. Either or. 

Maroon suede Mary-Janes. 

I've had a Nordstrom gift card for a few weeks now after winning a Chippmunk contest - I was initially saving it to buy a watch but these shoes convinced me otherwise. Are they 100% the most practical, health care professional shoes out there? No. But I love them and will wear them anyway. They're Sole Society, which I didn't even realize were sold in stores, but they are leather, and very comfortable for 3 inch heels. love love love

So after five hours in that mall, we stopped at the outlet mall on the way home. Apparently it's one of the top 10 outlet malls in the country - it's huge, and completely packed with people looking for a good deal. We did the J.Crew Factory store first because we are suckers.

I really wanted to like this shirt. I wanted to step outside of my usually style a little bit, but it was just too much. I felt like a toddler. The shirt itself is great though - not as boxy as I would have thought, the fabric was very soft, and it didn't see uncomfortable like some shirts do so if it is your style, it may really work out for you! I just knew I wouldn't ever wear it. I also tried on this skirt (it was okay, wish it was more camel colored), and this sweater but meh. AND THEN MORE SHOES. I've wanted the black version of the Sylvia wedges since I've received my nude pair. They are just so comfortable, they require no breaking in, and I really just like them. All shoes at J.Crew Factory are currently 40% off, and with my student discount on top of that, I got them for $60. I swear, if they ever come out with new colors, I'll buy those too, that's how much I love these wedges.

So I didn't get a bunch of things like I had "hoped". I didn't really want to have giant bags full of clothing, but sometimes it's not as much fun to be logical and smart about shopping. Sometimes I just want all of the clothes to look good on me so I can buy all of the shiny and pretty things. But as an adult (living off of student loan money), I just can't do that. I don't want to add in random things to my closet just for those few hours of shopping euphoria. I want my closet to just have pieces in it that I love, and want to wear. Like my new pants, and shoes. And my future perfect stripped shirt, future perfect black gingham button up, and future perfect wrap sweater.