one year ago today: j.crew ikat dress

My ikat dress remains one of my favorite items in my closet. It's kind of one huge statement piece, but with it's neutral colors and simple shape, I think it can easily be mix and matched. One year ago, I wore it with my former favorite cardigan (RIP) to class, and this year I wore it under a white coat with a simple necklace and other black + gold accessories. Next up: with a blazer! While my dress is no longer available in stores, you can always try on eBay (I found several sizes here), or try this more expensive version if you really love it ;)

Dress: J.Crew [similar]

Necklace: Kendra Scott [exact]

Watch: c/o Larsson & Jennings [exact]

Shoe: Tory Burch [exact]

Purse: Tory Burch c/o Shopbop [save | exact]

P.S. Previous "One Year Ago Today" posts can be found here!

"how much do you make from blogging" and other questions

Blouse: Banana Republic [similar short sleeved version]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Necklace: J.Crew Factory [similar for < $10!]

Purse: Tory Burch c/o Shopbop [exact]

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]

How much do you really bring in via affiliate links every month?

I don't feel comfortable saying the exact amount, but lets just say that if I wasn't in school, I could make blogging be my full time job in the sense that it could pay the bills (but not much else). But, I am in school and I have loans because blogging income is not consistent, so the money I do make now has been used to pay off credit card debt (all gone now!), pay for Invisalign, and now is being saved up for a down payment for a house in two years. I always say that the money I make from blogging is a blessing and not a necessity, and I think that helps keep me in check a lot of the time when it comes to being too pushy with links.

I'm just starting out... and trying to work up the courage to take my outfit pics and post them online. What gave you the courage to start posting your own pics and do you have someone that takes your pictures or do you do it yourself?

blazed

I've been in scrubs and only scrubs for the past three weeks. Part of me loves it (work pajamas!) but the other half misses actually wearing some of the clothes in my closet. The good part is that in recent days it's been so hot during the day that I don't mind leaving the hospital in running shorts and a t-shirt!

But I do love this outfit I wore during my last rotation. The chambray blazer (now unfortunately sold out, although this one is similar) is the perfect lightweight layer, especially since I currently don't own a single cardigan. See, I can wear color sometimes ;)

Blazer: Loft [similar on sale]

Top: Forever 21 [similar]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

Bag: c/o Shopbop [similar]

Earrings: eBay [exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [similar]

too hot for wool

This is my first summer having to wear dress clothes every day (or at least every day when I'm not on surgery). It's taken a bit of getting used to! Since most of our school time these last two years have been during the cooler months, most of my "work clothes" are for colder weather. I've tried wearing my wool pencil skirts a few days just to break up the monotony of the same black pants all the time, and this was the only day I actually left the house in one since it was cooler than the rest. 

Lesson learned - don't buy dress clothes all for one season! 

Blouse: Loft [similar]

Skirt: J.Crew [exact style on sale]

Belt: Everlane [exact]

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

Earrings: eBay [exact]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]

Tote: Tory Burch c/o Shopbop [exact]

As a side, house-keeping note, all of the pictures for the next month or so are all from June when I was on family med. I currently get up at 4 AM and am in scrubs for 12 hours a day, so there aren't any pictures to be taken during the week :) Just so no one thinks I'm getting dolled up for surgery because all I'm managing at this point is to put in mascara in the morning!

try not to faint

By the time you read this, I will probably have already passed out during my first surgery today. You guys, I'm so nervous! The last time I scrubbed in on a surgery (the summer before starting school), I totally fainted...so lets hope that is not the case this time around (although I have a feeling it will be). 

Okay, enough boring school talk. Lets talk about my new blouse that I looooooove. It's a bit different from anything else I own and that makes me love it even more. On this day (a few weeks ago when I was still on family medicine), I wore it over a longer white tank top for a layered look, and I can't wait for it to cool down so I can wear it with my wool pencil skirts. I also think it'll look great with my white jeans and maybe even with these grey pants I just ordered to try out - see, so many options!

On a side note, lets all appreciate how nice my hair looks here because I went in for a trim two nights ago, and the guy cut 6 inches off. I'm trying (and failing) at not being super upset about this, but I already ordered the biggest bottle of biotin I can find to make it grow back ASAP. Luckily it'll be under a scrub cap for two straight months, so maybe I won't even notice! (but I totally will...).

Blouse: Banana Republic [exact]

Pants: The Limited [similar]

Tank: Express [exact]

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]

Bag: Tory Burch c/o Shopbop [exact]

Necklace: Kendra Scott c/o Rocksbox [code franishxoxo for 1 free month!]

via instagram

On a side note, Banana Republic just added a bunch of great new items to their sale section, and they are all now an additional 50% off. My favorite is this pink blouse - wouldn't it look so great under a blazer? 

Also worth mentioning that LOFT is currently offering 50% off evvvvvverything in stores. We don't have one close to me, so if you do, please go and try this gingham skirt on for me and report back ;)

one | two | three

four | five | six