it's still winter, y'all

Although much of the blogosphere is currently all "yay spring look at all these off the shoulder dresses!"...it's still very much winter around here! We actually just got three more inches of snow yesterday...

But that means I get to show you guys my amazing new coat! I actually forgot to mention this purchase in my last budget post, but that's because it ended up costing me just a few dollars out of pocket! I've been eyeing up Burberry's coat for a few months, and finally decided to order it...only to send it immediately back. It felt so cheap, and for that price, I do not want my coat to feel like it's from Forever 21. Then I stumbled upon this similarly styled coat from Cole Haan for half the price. With a little patience, it finally went on sale, and with Nordstrom notes saved up and a giftcard, it ended up costing me like $10 out of pocket.

And guys...this coat is amazing. I wore this on our trip to Montreal (where these pictures were taken) and it was perfect. I was very comfortable in the 10 degree weather wearing just this coat and my medium thickness sweater underneath it. I love that it's belted because it gives it a bit more shape (I wear it tied in a bow as you can see below). Even though all the cool girls in Montreal were wearing these complete fur hoods (I've never seen anything like them! Is this a thing everywhere or only in Canada?), I love that this has just a bit of faux fur right where you want it most - around your actual neck! I'm wearing a size large, and I find it fits true too size. If you are interested, I actually found the coat for more than half the price that Nordstrom is selling it for, here at Macy's and here at 6 PM.

Coat: Cole Haan [exact]

Pants: Express [exact]

Sweater: Caslon [exact]

Boots: Vince Camuto [similar below]

Apple watch strap: Amazon [exact]

Hat: similar

And because my black boots are four winters in and badly need to be replaced (there's a hole in one side of the boot and they no longer stay up on my legs), here are eight options that are currently on sale! Which ones are your favorite? I think I like the pair from Jessica Simpson the most!

one | two | three | four

five | six | seven | eight

out of the loop

Hi!

I have felt soooo out of the blogging loop these last few months. Between wearing scrubs all day, and being sick the past few weekends, I haven't had any opportunities to take blogging pictures ( / even wear real clothes). I know many bloggers hire photographers and take a bunch of pictures at the same time, but a part of me is just way to lazy! It's hard enough to come up with one outfit, much less five at a time. How do you do it, bloggers? 

Anyway, today is officially my last day of wearing scrubs for the next four weeks! I'll miss ya, adult pjs for work, but I have found they make me exponentially more lazy - I wash my hair at most twice a week, I wear less make-up, and I maybe eat a little more just because who notices when you wear baggy mens clothes all day? But...my attending on the next rotation is always really well dressed and put together, so I'm excited to feeling a little bit more put together myself. Maybe I should start by getting those roots fixed...yikes! Let's just pretend I did it on purpose, mmkay? 

Vest: J.Crew Factory [exact on sale!]

Shirt: Loft 

Pants: Express [exact - review here]

Scarf: Ann Taylor [exact]

Boots: Vince Camuto [love this similar pair - that back!]

Watch: c/o Larsson & Jennings [exact]

i get it from my mama

I loved this outfit, partially because my new poncho is so darn comfortable, but mostly because it reminded me of something my mom would 100% wear (I'm sure she's actually worn this exact outfit and I'm just copying her). When someone asks me who my style inspiration is, my answer is always the same - my mom! She has such a knack for putting cute outfits together, pairing unexpected pieces with one another, and just always looks so nice. While I've somehow turned into the "go-to fashion girl" in my family because of my blog, she's really the person who knows what she's doing.

I'm just faking it for the internet ;)

Poncho: Nordstrom [exact]

Tee: Banana Republic [similar on sale]

Pants: Express [exact]

Boots: Vince Camuto [exact]

Purse: Coach [mine is vintage from Etsy - it is called the Willis bag]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact for 50% off!]

Bracelet: gift from my friend Lizzi [very similar]

My poncho has been popping back in and out of inventory, so below are three options at three different price points. Which one is your favorite (and also...who is your style inspiration?)

save | spend | splurge

oh so cozy

It feels like forever since I last posted an outfit - it's been two weeks! My hours this rotation make it more difficult to take pictures, as the sun doesn't rise until closer to 8, and I'm at the hospital before 7. I also have the opportunity to wear scrubs if I choose to, and I'll be honest, I end up wearing them most days just because it means I can wear my comfortable birkenstock clogs instead of normal flats. So for the next few months, it'll probably mostly be weekend looks around here. 

Like this outfit! I wore this the week before Christmas to do all of our present shopping. I really really like this sweater from Modcloth. I could have probably gone down a size just because it runs a bit large but that makes that much more comfortable - plus the ability to tie it really helps with any sizing issue. They seem to be running low on sizes, but I believe you can sign up for the waitlist if you are interested. 

Sweater: Modcloth [exact]

Pants: Express [exact - review here]

Boots: Vince Camuto [similar]

Ring: Margaret Elizabeth

Nails: Essie [exact in peak show]

Lips: Nars [exact in Roman Holiday]

While Modcloth is definitely known for their more whimsical pieces, I do think they have quite a bit of more streamlined pieces. I have had a lot of luck with their sweaters - they've held up well, and always receive compliments. Here are a few of my current picks with the grey sweater obviously being #1 ;)

one | two | three | four

the inbetween

I can't believe it's the end of November, and we still haven't had our first snow. Personally, I don't really love winter - it makes driving, getting dressed, and blogging more difficult than I prefer. I'm so happy that we've had a real (long) fall this year! I'd rather wear cute light-weight jackets and leather boots anyway.

But...#winteriscoming, so we might as well prepare for it. Kohl's recently launched a new line of winter accessories and they are perfect for those of us who have many months of colder weather ahead. From affordable duck boots to puffer vests to the cutest beanies, they pretty much have all of your winter needs covered. I've been wearing their buffalo plaid hooded jacket the last couple of weeks - it's so comfy, and the perfect "in between" seasons coat. I plan on picking up their tassel infinity scarf when I'm in stores this weekend for a bit of holiday shopping...I may just have to pick up a few extras for presents too!  

Coat: Madden Girl c/o Kohl's [exact]

Blouse: Banana Republic

Pants: Gap 

Hat: Madden Girl c/o Kohl's [exact]

Boots: Vince Camuto

Below are a few more of their items - use code NOV15 to take an additional 15% off (valid 11/23-11/27!)

one | two | three | four | five

six | seven | eight | nine | ten

Thank you to Kohl's and ShopStyle for sponsoring this post!

ponte pants are the best kind of pants

We are currently in the best part of the year - true fall. When the leaves are the prettiest, the jackets are a necessity, and ponte pants + boots become a staple. I've been wearing my ponte pants for three years now, and love them just as much as I did when I first bought them. They are thicker than most leggings, so they are warmer, aren't see through, and I think they look better than jeans when it comes to what pants to wear with boots. While mine are old, there are three pairs at three different price points at the bottom of this post!

Blouse: Banana Republic [even cuter version]

Pants: Gap [similar below]

Scarf: Forever 21 [exact]

Coat: Old Navy [exact]

Boots: Vince Camuto [exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact on sale!]

Bag: Madewell [save | exact]

Here are several ponte pants at different price points - I'm actually really tempted by the <$25 pair (because they look exactly like the $100 pair!)

< $25 | < $50 | < $100

dated

I feel there are certain very clear blogging trends that emerge every year - things that you see all over Pinterest that may or may not be normal things people wear in real life - and I feel that in 10 years, you'll be able to look at certain outfits and know what year they are from just based on the trendy items in the outfit. 

For example, the herringbone vest is very 2013-2015 (is it bad that I also want the red gingham version? It doesn't help that it's also on sale...). The large oversized scarves (which, side note, I hope never go out of style because I love them) are also a pretty big thing this winter. While I try really hard not to get suckered into every trend out there, sometimes I just can't resist the really good ones - like black and white vests, or scarves that double as blankets at the library. 

So maybe in a few years this will look super dated....but today I like it ;)

Tee: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Vest: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Scarf: gift from Steph [similar]

Pants: Gap [similar on sale]

Boots: Vince Camuto [exact on sale]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]*

Nails: Essie [exact - love love love!]

*as I was looking for inexpensive options, I stumbled across this (not inexpensive) watch - how cool is it?! I don't need another watch, but I think this one would make such a fun conversation piece.

just wanting to be normal

The closer we get to the end of our second year of school and the beginning of our clinical years, the more and more I look forward to being a bit more of a normal person. Right now, between school work and studying for boards, we don't get a night, much less a day off. Every hour I'm not studying is an hour I feel incredibly guilty about. But it's also really hard to just go go go and never have a break. The worst times for me are really on weekends, when I see everyone else enjoy their time off. 

CR knows that that really does affect me, so we have a new rule that once a month, we go out for Sunday brunch. The library doesn't open until noon anyway, so once a week we get to sleep in a bit more, actually spend a bit of time doing my hair and make-up, and enjoy a nice meal out together. It really has been nice to have that to look forward to and feel like a normal person, even if it's just for the hour before we go to the library all day ;)

Sweater: BR Factory [not similar, but how cool is this sweater?]

Pants: Gap [similar]

Scarf: gift from Steph 

Boots: Vince Camuto [exact]

Purse: c/o Shopbop [exact] **

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]

** Shopbop has updated their sale section with a bunch of cute new items, including Rebecca Minkoff purses, and Paige denim (most under $140). The C. Wonder home decor and some Jonathan Adler accessories (like his adorable phone cases!) are really cheap right now - don't forget that if you have Amazon Prime, you get free 2 day shipping :)

top three [02.01.15]

can't stop won't stop with these boots: one | two | three

medicine

• Locked-in syndrome, or pseudocoma, happens when there is a lesion in the brainstem. Basically, the person has a stroke, goes into a coma for a few weeks, and then slowly regains consciousness, but can't physically move anything except possibly a bit of eye movement, so the patient still seems like they are in a coma when in fact they are fully conscious. Doesn't that sound completely horrible? A journalist and editor of French Elle named Jean-Dominique Bauby actually had this after suffering from a stroke and he ended up writing a whole book with only his eyes. He ended up dying two days after it was published. 
• Oxytocin is a hormone that is released from your pituitary gland that has two big functions - uterine contractions during birth, and milk letdown during breast feeding. Interestingly, our bodies can be conditioned to the sight, sound, or smell of a baby to have milk let down happen. Kind of an unfortunate response if you aren't ready to breastfeed the second you see a baby...
• In 2000, the measles were eliminated from the US. I don't fully understand why we are currently putting ourselves, and especially our infants (who can't be fully vaccinated yet) at risk for diseases that are preventable. I once read a quote that people who are afraid of vaccinations giving their children autism are more afraid of having an autistic child than their child dying of a preventable disease, and that really stuck with me. I don't mean to step on any toes here, but I spend day in and day out learning about these horrible diseases that happen when one isn't vaccinated, and I just don't understand how anyone could put their children at risk of getting these diseases when there are very real, and very safe, vaccines out there. 

on the internet

• I loved Claire's recent outfit and since I have many of the same pieces, I feel I'm obligated to copycat. 
• Katie gave the "dress as a skirt" a whirl, and looks amazing. I love her necklace!
• This is from last week, but I loved reading Lauren's reasons for no longer shopping online. 

spotted

• Besides the Chanel-like shoes, Target has been killing it lately with accessories. This tote would be a great addition to your closet (the reversible red makes me all *heart eyes*), while this watch is veerrrrrry  similar to this $1000+ version. 
• How pretty is this top? I would need to do at least a million push-ups before I felt comfortable in a sleeveless top, but it may be worth it. 
• Thoughts on this dress as a "wear to a wedding" dress? The back is so beautiful. 

on franish

• on the blog: january's budget, and all the ladies who linked up!
• on instagram: snowy mornings call for warm scarves, hot coffee, and cuddly dogs
• on facebook: a throwback of 3 years of layering - upgrade or downgrade?

personal

• I hit a diet milestone this week by finally putting another hole in my belt. Although I've lost close to 15 pounds, I haven't changed dress sizes. The downside of being 5'9'' (besides that most jeans are too short) is that you need to lose quite a bit of weight to change dress sizes, but it did feel great to tighten up the belt a bit. 
• My exam last monday went really really well - I was in the top 10%! Now if only this endocrine exam tomorrow would go that well....
• Baer and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary the other day. He's grown about 40 pounds, still has feet too big for his body, and I love him more every day.