dotted + spotted

Sooooo....these pictures are from like 6 weeks ago. Oops! Wearing scrubs almost every day has really put a damper on blogging. Good news is that my next rotation has a lot of clinic time, so in case you have just been dying for more work-appropriate outfit posts, you're maybe in luck ;)

Anyway - this outfit is from the first time I wore this polka dot blouse, but it certainly hasn't been the last time I've worn it since! I've been reaching for it every weekend and it's just so fun to wear. Unfortunately it sold out pretty quickly, but I found a few alternatives below. I'm excited to pair it with a skirt next!

Blouse: Loft 

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Bag: Mulberry via eBay [save | exact]

Shoes: Tory Burch [save | exact]

Scarf: H&M [similar]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact]

Here are a few similar polka dot shirts out there, both in white on black and black on white. My favorite is the Foxcroft version - I just think it would look so cute tucked into some dark wash jeans! Loft has the white on black version of my shirt currently available as well. 

one | two | three

four | five | six

beauty tuesday: first aid beauty ultra repair hydrating serum

A few weeks ago on my Fresh face oil review, one of my readers Musja mentioned that an oil may not give me the moisture my skin needs, and to try a serum instead. I didn't really know where to start when it came to looking for a serum, so I went to my go-to beautypedia to see what they recommended. The highest rated item was the Hydrating Serum from First Aid Beauty, and after reading a few other reviews, I quickly ordered myself a bottle. I generally like to wait several weeks before doing a skincare review, but I have had such great results so far that I felt I needed to share, especially since the winter weather is just starting to really hit a lot of us!

what it promises:
Formulated for all skin types, this hydrating gel instantly infuses skin with optimal hydration to plump and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid—a moisture-locking agent that stores up to 1,000 times its molecular weight in water—helps hydrate, hydrate, plump, and nourish. Antiaging peptides help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while collagen helps increase firmness and elasticity, restore texture, and replenish skin. Ultra Repair’s signature ingredient, colloidal oatmeal, along with aloe leaf juice calm and soothe irritated skin for an allover healthy-looking complexion. This water-based gel penetrates immediately into the skin leaving behind an invisible shield that seals in hydration. Its lightweight texture makes it perfect for layering under your favorite AM and PM moisturizers. 

how I use it:
In the morning, after I've washed my face and applied the Paula's Choice Exfoliant to problem areas, I use about half of a squirt on the dry areas of my face, which is typically around my mouth, the apples of my cheeks, and between my eyebrows. Once dry, I follow up with my CeraVe moisturizer.

what I like:
If the Fresh face oil was helping my dryness by 25%, the First Aid serum is helping it by 85%. From the first day I used it, I noticed a huge decrease in the flakiness of my skin. This has been a HUGE change for me - my face has been so dry and peeling the weeks before that that I really noticed a change. I used to have to go into the bathroom several times a day just to scarp the flakes off - and since starting to use the serum, I haven't had to do that once. I have been using the serum for 10 days now, and haven't had a single horrible flaky day yet. 

In an additional plus over the face oil, it doesn't leave any slickness to my skin at all. With the oil I always knew if I used even one drop too many that my skin could stay oily (and still flaky) for the whole day. This hasn't happened at all with the serum/gel since it absorbs right into the skin.

That is my personal experience with the serum - here is the beautypedia review that goes a bit into the ingredients and why it works (backed by published scientific research). Many of you have recommended finding a product with hyaluronic acid in it, which this serum has, and you guys were so right - it really does help with keeping my skin calm and moisturized!

what I don't like:
Like I said, I would say this is making my skin 85% better - I don't think any one product will really get me to 100% perfect dewy skin (is that even attainable? who knows). I wouldn't say that the product is sticky or leaves a residue by any means, but it definitely doesn't feel as luxurious and smooth as face oils do. Besides the price ($36 for 1 oz), those are really the only "downsides" I have found with this product. 

would I buy this again? 
Based on results, I would definitely buy the First Aid Hydrating Serum again. Since this is my first experience with serums and hyaluronic acid, I may test out a few other products once this bottle is done, but I see no reason other than that not to buy another bottle in the future. 

top three [01.10.2015]

medicine

• Myxedema is a word used to describe the changes seen in extreme hypothyroidism (but also sometimes in hyperthyroidism - the thyroid is a bit tricky like that!). This can cause bradycardia (slow heart rate) or hypotension (low blood pressure), puffiness around the eyes, an enlarged tongue, ascites, and tibial swelling. 
• How the heart develops in an embyro is one of the coolest processes we have learned about - here's a video that demonstrates all the changes the heart goes through to become a "normal" heart. As you can see, there are a ton of different ways the process can go wrong. A ventricular septal defect is a hole in the wall between your ventricles, the lower chambers of your heart. Sometimes the holes will spontaneously close on their own, but sometimes they stay open. This causes a murmur - I actually heard one this week!
• Culture Bound Syndromes are a combination of pyschiatric and somatic symptoms that are found only within a certain culture. If you have the time, this is a pretty interesting article on some of them.

on the internet

• Kimi details her best and worst purchases of the year - I love reading her reasoning behind each piece, and how she is using that to drive her purchases this year. 
• Like I've mentioned, we have become addicted to HGTV lately because we are hoping to buy a home when we move next year, so I'm already so excited to finally have a place I can do what I want to. I loved seeing all of what Amanda accomplished in her home this year. I love seeing what "normal" people are able to accomplish, and how great it turns out for them!
• LOVED Sarah's post about getting back into shape for reasons that actually matter.

spotted

• I have wanted a gently distressed pair of jeans for so long, but I also don't want to pay designer-level prices for a pair of jeans that aren't something I'd wear all the time. While this pair from BLANKNYC is still expensive, it isn't in the $200 price range (although they look like they are!). They have just the right amount of distressing, don't you think? 
• A comfy faux fur vest is something I've wanted, but also not something I've wanted to spend a lot of $$$ on, so not only is this rose version from Target exactly what I want, but it's inexpensive as well!
• As much as I love my comfy scrubs every day, I kind of miss my real clothes too! These fun mosaic printed pants are just begging to be worn! 

ask me anything

• Are your ferragamo shoes comfortable? They are certainly beautiful and I have considered saving up (for a long time) to get a pair, but I am just concerned they will disappoint by being horrible blister traps.
• I do think initially that my Ferragamo flats [seen here] were a bit stiffer than other shoes and harder to break in. I also wouldn't say they are shoes you want to wear if you know you are going to do a ton of walking all day. I wear them on days that I know I'll be sitting more, or at least on days where I'm not walking long distances. That being said, I do think once your feet are used to them and them are a bit broken in that they are very comfortable shoes to wear! Plus they make me so happy to wear whenever I get to wear them. They are very very pricey but are definitely something worthy of saving up for - or searching on ebay for!
• Is what you learn in the classroom applicable in your rotations? Have you found that you have used what you have learned from the text books with your patients or is it "learn as you go" from your mentor doctors?
• Oh god, it's so applicable! The first two years of medical school are for us as students to learn how the body actually works, and to have a general understanding of all of the diseases. Once you get to the hospital floor, you never know what you are going to see, so you can't always prepare for the patients, so you kind of have to know something about everything. Having the first two years as a foundation is wonderful to now build on with we learn in actually diagnosing and treating the patient. You could never do the second part of school without the first! It is still "learn as you go" though, because what the text book says and what is actually done in a hospital may be different, plus you can't really learn the management of a patient through a book. 
• I was wondering how you met CR? Is he a medical student as well?
• He is! We met during our first year of school - our last names are next to each other in the alphabet, so we were partners in a lot of things. We started off as friends for most of first year, and towards the end realized it was more than that :)

notable sales

• Anthropologie: 25% off sale items
• Still way too expensive, but this floral skirt is SO FREAKING GORGEOUS. 
• Also pricey but maybe a bit more practical are their floral sneakers - how fun would they be to wear in gloomier weather? 
• With the promotion, this jacquard peplum top is now almost 1/3 of the original price. Wear it with black skinny jeans and heels!
• J.Crew: 40% off certain items + 40% off sale items
• How freaking cute is their blue + white gingham vest? WANT. It would make such a great transition piece in the spring. 
• I've heard such great things about the J.Crew ballet flats, and now their many colors are on sale! 
• It's almost sad how bad I want this cotton pj set - the red is so freaking cute!
• Shopbop
• Quite a few cute Kate Spade bags currently on sale - my favorite is the mini tote in blush!
• I've always loved Sam Edelman shoes. I have a pair of his flats that are so comfy. Some of his most classic styles are on sale too!
• Even though spring is months away, retailers are starting to kick out their winter gear for spring clothes, which makes it the perfect time to pick up a sweater you can still wear for months. 

on franish

• on the blog: sharing what a day on internal medicine looks like
• on the instagram: who needs a reason to celebrate when you have champagne gummies? YUM.
• on the twitter: I'm committing to watching The Bachelor this season (whoa, dream big) but ugh, I just cringe the entire time! but still, so good, amiright? 

personal

• I'm officially half way through my general IM rotation, and I can honestly say that I am really enjoying it! I feel this is the rotation I've grown the most in my medical knowledge and in my role as a future physician. Not to say that I'm not counting the days until my next OB rotation (only eight more weeks!) but I have been pleasantly surprised how much I've been enjoying this service. 
• We finally took our Christmas decorations down this weekend - everything is just prettier when there are lights up! 
• Has the weather been unseasonably warm for you too this winter? We haven't even had a real snowfall yet...but it's supposed to snow this entire week and I am NOT looking forward to it. 

day in the life: internal medicine

5:35: alarm. snooze.

5:48: whoops. time to get up! I kick the cat out of bed, go brush my teeth and wash my face. I just started using a serum from First Aid, but besides that, my morning routine is the same as always. A light foundation, blush, eyeliner, eyebrow powder, and mascara.  

6:05: All done!

beauty tuesday: the best primer + mascara primer EVER

I am a huge lashes girl - as a blondie, I refuse to leave the house without at least one swipe of mascara on. As the fellow blondes here will tell you, even a swipe of mascara (...and brow powder) makes such a huge difference on us! Which is to say that I've been looking for the perfect mascara for the better half of my life...basically since my parents told me I could finally wear make-up to school in 9th grade (I may or may not have been secretly wearing brown mascara before then. Sorry, Mom!)

For a while, I was pretty close with the L'Oreal primer + Better Than Sex combo, but I always was a bit annoyed with keeping a product where I only used half of it, and had to buy it twice as often. I also found it just a bit too clumpy. About a month ago, Urban Decay sent me a package with a few of their products, and hands down my favorite has been their Subversion Lash primer. This goes on a bit finer and less clumpy than the L'oreal primer, and I think it makes such a huge difference in making your lashes look almost like you're wearing falsies. While my current tube was gifted to me, I can honestly say that I will definitely purchase tubes in the future once my current one runs out. It consistently gives me the lashes I've always wanted.

Below is my "eyelash routine". My eyelash curler is Shiseido, the primer is Urban Decay (c/o) , and the mascara is Too Faced. And as a side note, a few of you have asked how I remove my make-up and it's super simple/cheap. I use coconut oil! I melt it between my fingers, massage onto my eyes, rinse, cleanse with my Paula's Choice cleanser, and done. I will never pay for make-up remover again!

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

top three [01.03.2016]

because I actually didn't share a single outfit this week - but here's an idea of what I wear every.single.day ;)

medicine

• Did you guys hear about the lady with "auto-brewery" syndrome? It's caused by a type of yeast that causes intoxicating levels of alcohol to be produced within the person's body without having a drink of alcohol. It was recently in the news because a lady was charged with a DUI because of her BAC (0.40!) even though she didn't have a single drink. 
• Mittelzschmerz is a fun German word that means "middle pain" - it's used medically to describe the pain some women have during ovulation. Isn't being a woman fun? 
• An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a dilation of your aorta. It is most commonly found in older male smokers. Interesting, and without yet an explanation, having diabetes actually lowers the risk of acquiring an AAA. 

on the internet

• I am in love with Jessica's gorgeous/unique coat (plus how great does her hair look? I am so jealous). 
• Adina is one of my all time favorite bloggers - go check out her year review to see why (and check out her exciting announcement at the end!) 
• Yasi is also one of my favorites - she just looks effortlessly pulled together all the time. Love this easy layered look (that necklace!) on her.

spotted

• Don't you just watch to throw on this fluffy sweater and curl up in front of a fire? I love the grey color!
• The cut on this J.Crew Factory dress is so so flattering that it's definitely going on my watch-list. It's perfect for wearing wearing alone under a white coat in the summer, or layering with a soft cardigan in the winter. LOVE!
• Is "travel more" on your 2016 resolution list? Sole Society's weekender bag looks so much more expensive than it is. It has a separate bottom compartment, which is just genius!

ask me anything

• Do you have any advice for anyone interested in medical school, but is intimidated/discouraged by not having followed a "traditional" plan. (Major in a science -> Apply to Med School -> Start med school right after graduating college at 22.) What role does age have in med school?
• My advice is that if you really want to go to medical school, there are a thousand different ways of ending up there. You have no idea how thankful I am that I took a few years off before starting school. I think it made me more motivated, and wiser, than if I personally had started right after graduating. Work experience is never a bad thing and taking the non-traditional route to school can definitely be an advantage. I think age doesn't have much of a factor when it comes to school. I'm friends with 24 year olds and 37 year olds in my class - the thing is, at this point in our education, we are at the same point, so age makes less of a difference. 
• My faithful rain boots have finally failed me and I have decided to splurge on some Hunter boots. The only problem is I can't pick a color. I love how you styled your green ones but I am worried they won't be versatile in summer as well. I really just can't narrow it down between green, navy, yellow or red. Help! 
• My advice would be to look at the colors in your closet, your accessories (scarves, jackets) and see what is most complimentary. For example, a pair of yellow boots wouldn't work as well in my closet as a pair of pretty shiny red ones would (come on Hunter, please make an adjustable pair in shiny red!). In the end, rain boots are supposed to be fun so go with a color that makes you happiest. They aren't your every day shoes, and you have to find some way to be happy in the rain/snow ;)
• How many hours a day do you spend (on average) writing your blog, reading/commenting on other blogs, or answering blog related emails?
• That really depends on what kind of post I'm working on. My Sunday posts take me around two hours, with most of the work being done on Saturday although I try to work on it here and there throughout the week. A regular outfit post takes me probably a total of an hour between editing pictures, writing the post, and finding the correct links. I very rarely ever sit down and write a post in one go though, so it's hard for me to quantify. I would say I probably spend 45 minutes a day on writing and reading blogs. I don't have the time to comment on blogs like I used to, but I still read quite a few of them! I wish I had more time to work on my own blog - between taking better/more exciting pictures, improving my editing, and writing more posts in a week, but I have to put my education first. 

on franish

• on the blog: setting and maintaining a clothing budget!
• on the instagram: have you ever seen a happier dog? 
• on the twitter: he wishes!

notable sales

• Loft: 60% off sale items
• A striped sweater dress is a winter staple for me and their black version is super cute. 
• Their denim jacket is now under $20!
• How freaking cute is their gingham top? Colored shorts, black jeans, a fun skirt...want!
• Nordstrom: last day of the Half Yearly sale!
• Are you a bride this year and looking for a white dress for a shower/party/rehearsal? How pretty is this lace sleeved version, now 33% off?!
• The reviews can't stop raving about these Cole Haan heels - they are 35% off. I love the nude version. 
• Kate Spade always makes the cutest watches. I love the gold + thinner cognac strap on their perry watch - so freaking cute!
• Old Navy: sportswear on sale!
• I just got the cropped mesh pants and they are so fun! CR says they are too sexy for the gym but I see them as motivation to just get there ;)
• If you are more into full-length pants, how fun are their leg-graphic pants? I love the polka dots!
• I also got their medium support sports bra. I went with a medium but would have more comfortably worn a large. I find they have the right amount of support for exercise that isn't running (that activity always requires two for me). 
• PS: Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual sale is going on right now. My favorite bra is the lined demi from the Body by Victoria line, and most are right around $30 right now. Plus shipping over $50 is free, which rarely happens. 

personal

• We just started watching Making a Murderer and it is so interesting to see it all unravel. It definitely took us an episode or two to really get into it, but we then couldn't stop. I love seeing glimpses of Wisconsin throughout the story - I miss it so much. Also, do we all really have accents that bad? Ouch!
• 2016 means that I can now say that I graduate next year! But first comes the interview season. CR and I are working our way through all the programs we want to apply to and audition at, and it is making me a nervous wreck. You guys should see our colorful spreadsheet :/
• I've been really into watching more beauty videos and reading more beauty blogs lately. I only have a couple I follow though, so if you have a few favorites, I would love to hear any recommendations you may have!