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Blouse: Vera Moda Germany

"Pants": Urban Outfitters [exact]

Belt: Gap [same style]

Shoes: Banana Republic c/o Chippmunk [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 

Bag: Target

I officially have one week of medical school under my belt. Only 199 weeks (or 1,395 days) left!

This weekend is will be dedicated to studying for our exam on Monday and preparing for anatomy which starts next week as well. We saw a few of the cadavers this week so I'm nervous, but also excited, to get a little more hands on. I hope you guys all have a great weekend - enjoy the nice weather for me :)

P.S. I hit 1,000 followers on bloglovin yesterday and so I just wanted to take this time to thank all of you for being so great - with the move recently and this massive life change, I'm so thankful that I can come here to talk to you and just escape for a little bit. It's like having a bunch of friends right at my finger tips :)

P.P.S. The Chippmunk contest is still going! Make sure you enter - it's super easy and your chances of winning something are pretty high!

double dots

Man, are my eyes staring straight into your soul or what?

OK, I'm going to be honest and say this isn't my favorite outfit of all time. This cardigan...is just is not working on me I think. I really love the idea of it, but it always looks like I gained 20 lbs when I wear it (which may be true after this weekend - making a carrot cake for Chris means I'm obligated to eat half of it - that's how that works, right?), and it's just a smidgen too short. I think I'm going to hang on to it in hopes that it will look better with skirts than with pants though. 

Although I'm not moving for another 4.5 months I am starting the slow process of packing, starting with my closet. Moving is the perfect opportunity to get rid of everything I don't really use -  I'm only going to take items with me that I truly wear. I started the process yesterday and realized I have 4 (FOUR) pairs of colored skinny jeans and I wear none of them because they all don't fit me. Talk about jumping on a trend even though it's not right for you, right? I love the colors, just not the fit. They, along with lots of other random pieces, will be listed on my new poshmark account. Feel free to look around and let me know if you have any questions/offers. I'll be updating periodically through the clean-up. Looking through the clothes I've purchased over the past five years, and what mistakes I've made, has been pretty humbling. It just feels like a lot of wasted money for items that aren't me, or don't fit my body. I think, for me at least, it really only reinforces the need to stick to a list of items while shopping, and hammering in that it's quality over quantity. Gahhhh, but sometimes it's just more fun to buy a bunch of shiny sparkly shirts than to save for those perfectly fitting trousers, ya know?

Blouse: J. Crew Factory  {save | exact}
Sweater: Forever 21  {similar}
Pants: Urban Outfitters*  {exact}
Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington  {exact}
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs  {exact}







*um yes, these are still my old pants. I really wanted to wear them Saturday night so I willed them to stay together at the seam with some help from patches and some not so neat stitching. I'm afraid to even wash them because I'm afraid they'll just fall apart. Those new pants need to really get here soon.

10 days left of TOPIO! I'm definitely enjoying the challenge of having to think about outfits around certain pieces but at the same time it'll be nice to just wear whatever I feel like that morning...although an outfit around simple shoes isn't exactly rocket science.









Linking up with Style Elixir and Marionberry Style!

dschungel

In case you are wondering what that title is, it's the German word for jungle. If you have ever wondered why my name is spelled so weird, it's because it's the German way of spelling Franchesca...because I'm an (permanent) alien in this country and originally from Germany. And jungle in German is dschungel. 

maybe I'll start giving you a random German word a day that someone describes my outfit. Today it's dschungel because I felt like I was going on a safari. A cold, Midwest safari, but a safari nonetheless.

Chambray: Old Navy  {exact}
Vest: Old Navy  {similar}
Jeans: Urban Outfitters  {exact}
Boots: Steve Madden  {save / splurge}
Scarf: borrowed from Emily, originally Target*
Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington  {exact}
Bracelets: Forever 21


*a few weeks ago when I was debating between this scarf and the blue one, I choose the blue one. I then told Emily about all the amazing scarves on clearance, so she went and bought the one I didn't get...and then let me borrow it. What a good friend huh?

...and this is what I look like when I'm trying to figure out why my camera is taking such shoddy pictures.















linking up to mix & match fashion.

happiest place on earth

I copied this look off of this pin (I can't find the original source originally from C. Style). While I love love wearing this sweater as it is so warm and so comfortable, it is somewhat limiting. I tried it with my maroon skinny jeans but those suckers are just not comfortable enough to sit in all day...so I wore my black jeans instead. In sad closet news, these jeans are about to be retired. I've been wearing them at least 2-3 times a week for over a year, and they are starting to wear through in the thighs...that's what I get for having chubby legs I suppose (but all of that cheese I ate to get here was worth it ha). I've even patched them up and will continue to wear them until they are un-patchable. Unfortunately it seems that UO isn't re-stocking these so now I'm going to have to find a new favorite pair of black skinny jeans. Do you have any recommendations? 

Sweater: Urban Outfitters  {save / exact}

Jeans: Urban Outfitters

Belt: stolen from dress

Boots: Frye  {exact}

Ring: American Eagle

Shoutout to my co-worker Emily who froze outside to take these pictures on the way back to work from the happiest place on Earth (Chipotle, obviously). Thanks girl!

tickled pink

I think that impending sickness I complained about implied was coming decided it wasn't going to mess around with me, and left to bother someone else. So to celebrate, I wore all of my favorite things today: polka dots, a bright scarf, a pretty ring won in a giveaway, and cute flats. 

I would like to thank my immune system for showing those germs who is boss, my boyfriend for making me food all weekend while I sulked about the "sickness" and my dogs for giving me snuggles whenever I asked for them.

I think from now on I'm going to fake sickness whenever I don't want to make dinner. Seems to work like a charm! ;)

Shirt: J.Crew Factory  {exact}
Scarf: c/o The Posh'mina  {exact}**
Jeans: Urban Outfitters  {exact}
Belt: Target
Flats: Marc by Marc Jacobs  {exact}
Watch: Boccia
Bracelet: Express
Ring: via The Demure Muse
Nails: Essie Ballet Slippers



**There's 2 days left to enter to win one of these bad boys. Enter here!

via Instagram.







linking up with wiww.

the posh'mina showoff + GIVEAWAY!

As you ladies (gentlemen? doubt it) know, I just about live in scarves. I wear one almost every single day and although I sometimes know how to tie them (ok...so hope that all of the twisting and tying somehow works), it's nice when something comes along and makes it easier. The wonderful ladies at The Posh'mina sent me this scarf (as well as this one!) and I'm so excited because not only does the design make it easier to nonchalantly drape across your neck, you can also use it as a shawl or belt it or even as a top. Since I was wearing this to work (and therefore under a lab coat), I went the conventional route and used the slots to secure the ends. The scarf feels and looks so expensive - I especially like that this one has 2 different sides as I think it gives the scarf more depth.

The Posh'mina has generously afforded to give one of their scarves away to one of you! Just enter the Rafflecopter below. I apologize to all of you international ladies, this one is only open to US residents.

Cardigan: Ann Taylor Outlet  {save / splurge}
Tee: Gap
Scarf: c/o The Posh'mina
Jeans: Urban Outfitters  {exact}
Belt: J. Crew {exact but cheaper in stores!}
Boots: Frye  {exact}
Purse: Madewell  {exact}
Watch: Kate Spade  {exact}
Bracelet: DIY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

wind like woah

You guys. It was so windy this morning. I had no idea what to do with myself...or my hair which was all over the place. That's what I get for even attempting to do anything with it - a face full of wind. I was doing all these unnatural (more unnatural than standing in front of a camera taking pictures of yourself already is) poses and nothing worked. So this is what you get today. At least I tried...

Blazer: H&M  {similar}

Chambray: Old Navy  {exact}

Jeans: Urban Outfitters  {exact}

Belt: Gap  {save / splurge}

Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}

Watch: Target  {similar}

Ring: Stolen from my sister Karoline

I'm in love with this belt. I bought it when Whitney and I went shopping and got it for a song. Since I now realize what I was missing out on with mustard colored items (hey, only like 4 years behind), I am trying to play catch up.


via Instagram

along the lines of franish

Another day, another polka dotted shirt. I recently bought this shirt for $8 during the after Christmas sale at Banana Republic while we were in Alabama. I really liked it on Jenni a few months ago, but never actually saw one in our local store. After taking a look at what my closet has a lot of and what it needs, I realized that I don't really own a lot of hot weather clothes - no t-shirts that aren't sports t-shirts so adding a polka dot tee made sense (so I tell myself).

And after seeing Audrey's recap of the way she wore hers, I have 5 new outfit ideas for it!

Bloggers: the reason I pretend I know how to dress myself.

Cardigan: Banana Republic Outlet  {similar}
Tee: Banana Republic  {similar}
Scarf: Target  {on sale in stores}
Jeans: Urban Outfitters  {exact}
Watch: Boccia
Earrings: Tiffany & Co.  {exact}
Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}

When we were on vacation last week, my sister Viktoria and I drove up to Birmingham to meet up with Whitney from Along the Lines of Style. Whit was one of my first blogging friend and we've grown close over the last 6 months of blogging. Since we had never actual met, we were both about actually nervous about meeting face to face ( I said that must be what meeting someone from online dating must feel like). Turns out I had nothing to worry about - Whitney is as sweet, pretty and funny as she is on her blog (and if you want to see what she wore, read here!). I'm so thankful that at a time where many of my "real life" girlfriends have moved away that I'm making new ones...even if they are spread out all over the country and I only know them through pictures and emails.

thundersnow

...is a real thing apparently.

We've been hit with about 18 inches of snow (so far) so it's been an adventure (and by adventure I mean nightmare). I had to go to work today (for 3 hours...) so it was fun having the streets alllll to myself. But then I got to come home and nap. After said napping, Chris and I went out to explore. We hiked around in the snow for about 4 miles. Kind of dumb since trees were literally being pulled out of the ground from the heavy weight of the snow, but also kind of awesome.

"Take a picture of my gloves!"
"Why?"
"Because they're cute!"
"You are so weird"

But they are cute, right?

Jacket: purchased in Germany  {similar}

Hat: Gap  {similar that I want too}

Scarf: Forever 21  {similar}

Gloves: also from Germany  {similar, similar}

Pants: Urban Outfitters  {exact}

Boots: Steve Madden  {similar}

frivolous

Yesterday morning I was running a little early so I stopped at Starbucks before work...and was so annoyed that it took 10 minutes to make me a simple iced drink. It feels so stupid now to think that the worst part of my day was having to wait for a stupid drink while small children were being killed in cold blood. It all seems so frivolous - the coffee drinks, the taking pictures of what I wore, the typing of what I wore, while there are parents who lost their babies that day for no reason. My heart aches for them, and I hope this forces our country to work on the diagnosing and treating of mental illness.

I was unsure how if I should even bring this up on my blog. Fashion blogging is about escape and inspiration and fun, and the horrible events that happened in Connecticut are none of those... but those little children and their teachers have been on my mind all day as I'm sure they've been on yours, so even though we will continue to live our lives and hold those we love closer, I couldn't not acknowledge their tragic and untimely deaths.

here's what I wore yesterday.

frivolous, I know.



Blazer: Old Navy  {save / splurge}
Shirt: Gap
Scarf: H&M  {similar}
Jeans: Urban Outfitters  {exact}
Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}
Watch: Fossil  {very similar}
Bracelet: Tiffany & Co.  {exact}

uncool

Bubble necklaces: are we all over them now? I know they've been around for what seems like forever, and they're over done, but this morning as I was trying to figure out how to not have the most boring outfit imaginable, and without wearing another scarf...I put it on and wore it anyway. So maybe my Midwest is showing (you know, being like 3 years behind on trends)  but I'll wear it with pride...

...or something

Blazer: H&M  {save / splurge}

Blouse: Forever 21  {exact}

Pants: Urban Outfitters  {save / exact}

Necklace: H&M  {splurge}

Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}

Nails: Seen here

linking up with wiww.

ladylike

I felt very girly wearing this blush, black and white outfit. I don't really own a lot of items in the pink family besides this cardigan, my pink chambray shirt and my LC blazer. Although I would consider myself pretty girly in the sense that I like clothes, painting my nails and not getting dirty, I don't really do pink. I don't have some deep explanation for this. Maybe my parents dressed me in only gender neutral clothing as a child so now I've continued this in adulthood?

Ok, I'll stop now ;)

Last day left to win one of these purse tassels! 

Cardigan: Banana Republic Outlet  {similar}

Blouse: Forever 21  {save, similar}

Pants: Urban Outfitters  {exact}

Earrings: Tiffany & Co.  {save / exact}

Necklace: Souvenir from Germany  {similar / splurge}

Watch: Fossil  {save / very similar}

Bracelets: Forever 21

Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs  {exact on sale}

Purse: Kate Spade {save / similar}

via Instagram

It's Geometric

In my October budget post I mentioned that I wanted to find a printed sweater this month. After spotting this sweater, I knew I wanted to try it out. I got a little click happy and ordered several other items from Urban Outfitters, and told myself I would either keep some of them, or this sweater. Although I really really liked the watch I ordered, I did just receive a beautiful watch for my birthday, and I don't own a big comfy printed wrap sweater, so I returned the watch along with another sweater and a pair of shoes to keep this sweater. The sweater costs a bit more than I would normally spend on a sweater, but I'm trying to buy fewer pieces with higher quality than a bunch of lower quality items.

I know for many items I buy I say that I have to think of at least 5 outfits I can put together with that piece of clothing. While I do think that should apply to the majority of one's closet, every once in a while it's nice to have that statement piece that may only be able to be worn a few ways.

Sweater: Urban Outfitters  {save, exact}
Belt: The Limited
Pants: Urban Oufitters  {exact}
Shoes: Old Navy {very similar}


Linking up with Work Clothes, I Suppose (comfy knits!!).

A friend at work told me I looked very "tribal" today but I told him it's more geometric than tribal...and then I had "It's Electric" stuck in my head all day. And now you probably do too - you're welcome!