fran's fbmp find: drexel pine dresser (and a little bedroom sneak peak)

I am so excited to talk about our new home! This spring, we sold our first home. We had loved making that home our own. It was the perfect house for us, but we were slowly outgrowing it...plus we were moving two states away, so we got lucky in a sellers market, and sold it in days. Finding a house, on the other hand, was tough. We lost several houses, but then got the luckiest when a younger couple was selling their beautiful home, and chose us to buy their house, even though we had competition with an all cash, no cap offer. I believe it's because they had young children and the house was made to raise kids in. We are just so thrilled to have gotten a house in this market. 

This house is twice the size of our last one. It has one more bedroom, it's own dining room, an office, and a formal living room...all things we did not have in our first home. We brought all of our furniture with us, but the majority of it doesn't really fit into the space - it's either the wrong shape or too small for the space. But furniture is expensive, so we are buying it in stages. We started with our bedroom!

I had saved up for the last month so we could furnish part of our bedroom when we moved in. We wanted our room to be calm and bright, and my husband requested to have shades of green in it. We painted one of the walls a really pretty green (Behr Eucalyptus Wreath), and the rest a bright white. When it came to furnishing it, I've always wanted a king sized bed. After months of debating which one to get, we went with the West Elm MidCentury Frame - it's so so pretty in real life and looks great with the green wall and hardwood floors! We went with a Saatva mattress, which is described as "hotel like", and as a belly sleeper, I've really really liked it. I had had my eye on this Crate and Barrel duvet, and I love the texture that it adds to the bed without it being an overwhelming pattern. 

As a side story, prior to medical school, I was really into thrifting. That's how I spent my evenings and weekends when I was working full time - finding goodies at Goodwill and garage sales. Now that I have my life back, and 3 months off before starting my first attending job, as well as a house to furnish, I've really rediscovered that thrifting bug. But with having two small children and a husband who works out of the house, spending hours at the thrift stores isn't really a possibility right now, so I've become a hardcore Facebook Marketplace fiend! In the 6 weeks we have lived here, I've already found several amazing pieces for our house. A few needed a little love, some needed nothing, and I can't wait to see how they tell their story in our house. The overall "look" for our house is transitional - filling our bright and airy spaces with a mix of old school charm with modern touches. That's the great thing about finding furniture and decor that's pre-loved - it doesn't need to fall into one design style, it just needs to fit the space. 

So, we had the bed, the bedding, and the rug, but needed a few other items for our bedroom. Top of the list were a dresser, and bedside tables, and then also a big mirror, lamps, and art. I spent several weeks looking at different dressers on FBMP when I ran across a beautiful 9 drawer pine dresser that was selling for $120. I reached out to the seller immediately, and went to see it that afternoon. It turns out it had been a part of an estate sale but no one bought it, so the price was decreased and put on FBMP...where it promptly became mine! 

As far as I can tell, the dresser is from sometime between the mid 20th century. It's made of pine, with dovetail construction on the drawers. The hardware is brass, but we will get to that in a second! When we got the dresser to our house, I noticed the smell immediately. It smelled like someone's very nice grandmother. The dressers had a paper lining, which was easily removed. I then wiped out each drawer with a 50/50 vinegar/water mixture, which apparently neutralizes perfumes. I then put some baking powder on paper plates, and put them in each drawer, and then put the drawers back in the dresser. We didn't put any clothes in the dresser for a week, and by the end of the week, all the former scents were gone! 

Now that it smelled new, it was time to update the hardware. Because of the very unique drawer pulls, it wasn't really an option to replace them because the stain behind the pulls was different than the rest of the drawer. So I removed all the pulls, soaked them for a few minutes in Dove power wash, and then used this magic powder to remove all the tarnish. It was amazing how a few minutes of scrubbing could complete remove the tarnish! 

Now she's sitting in our bedroom, and is mostly used as a baby changing table. I'm debating what to do above the dresser though. Across from it, above our bed, we already have a large piece of art (see below). Our big mirror is going on the third wall of the room, and the fourth wall currently just has two windows (...that still need curtains). I initially thought another mirror, but we don't really need it since we have the big one on the wall. Then I was thinking maybe a gallery wall? Several pieces of art? I don't know, I feel torn. 

I also bought two bedside tables on FBMP that need to be sanded and painted - they aren't a real wood so painting makes the most sense. I'm thinking maybe black paint and then gold hardware? We also need lamps for the bedside tables, I'd like two additional pillows in a green to go with the wall color, and this blanket for the edge of the bed. Once Theo's pack n play is moved out, we also would like to add a chair and small table in the corner. 

So while I'm excited about where we currently are, there's so much left to do!

bedframe / rug / duvet + shams / lumbar pillow / art

paint: Behr Eucalyptus Wreath

*meow*

my current skincare routine for mid-30s skin

I have shared my skincare routines over the years (2016 at age 28, 2018 at age 30) and I think the latest change to my skincare regimine is reflected of where I'm at in my mid 30s as a mother to two young children - quick and easy, gets results, and prevents future problems. I have dry skin that needs moisture. The acne I was dealing with for years is now kept at bay, but instead now we are dealing with fine lines. The addition of several key lotions and potions have made a huge difference in my skin though, and I'm so happy about where we are at. 

As a disclaimer, I did get 3 sessions of microneedling done back in 2016-2018 that helped with some acne scarring, and I get botox about twice a year, although with my pregnancies, I haven't really had much botox in the last 3 years. I also get a small amount of filler in my tear troughs every two years as I have had basically hollowed eye sockets since childhood. I think while those things helped target specific concerns that skin care can't fix, but the daily skin care routines make such difference in how your overall skin looks and feels. I'm at such a good place with how I feel about my skin that I don't wear anything on my skin other than some concealer and setting powder - I no longer wear any foundation or even a CC cream unless it's a special occasion. So here's my current routine, and why having a "less is more" approach is working for me now!

AM //

I don't used a cleanser in the morning, I just wash my face with water and then pat dry. Then I use

Vitamin C serum: Probably the biggest game changer for me has been adding vitamin C serums to my routine. I've tried several, I used BeautyPie's vitamin C ampules for several years until finally splurging on the SkinCeuticals version last month (it's the most hyped and recommended Vitamin C serum I've seen). It's been proven to help reduce free radical damage, and improve fine lines and overall brightness. I've definitely noticed a huge difference in the brightness of my skin with consistent Vitamin C use over the last three years. One big thing to note is that the stability of Vitamin C isn't great, so not all Vitamin C serums are created equal but I think all provide a benefit. As with most skin care, this is something you have to use daily and for a while until you see a difference, but with consistent use, you will get amazing results. As the SkinCeuticals serum is pricy (the priciest skin care item I've ever purchased), here's a post about dupes to the skinceuticals serum - I've always had great success with Paula's Choice so their Vitamin C serum would be my recommendation. If you aren't using a Vitamin C serum yet, I highly recommend adding one. 

Moisturizer: Like I said, I have dry skin, and have been very loyal to Belif's moisture bomb for years now. It's a medium thick cream, so it's great for daily morning use - provides enough moisture but doesn't turn you into an oil slick (I save that for night time!). Love love love. 

Sunscreen: Some years ago, I read that the best anti-aging cream you can buy is sunscreen and that somehow blew my mind but also makes sense. I've been consistently using daily facial sunscreen since my mid 20s and I like to think it's what keeps me looking so youthful ;) (...that, and the fact that I worked 60-80s hours a week and never saw the sun....). Something I didn't learn until recently though is that you're supposed to put your sunscreen on last in your routine! I'm currently using up my first bottle of SuperGoop's Glow Screen, which I quite enjoy as it leaves you all dewy and young looking. Next up I'm going to try EltaMD's sunscreen though, because it's again one that comes highly recommended my the dermatologists I follow. In the past I've also really liked Paula's Choice sunscreen, if you're looking for another price point. 

PM //

Cleanser: I can't find any make-up remover/cleanser as much as I love the Glossier cleanser. With just three pumps of the cleanser, I can take off all my make up without needing two different cleansers or separate make up remover. I've tried a bunch of others in the past, and always come back to this as it's so easy and works so well. If you're lazy, and don't wear a ton of face make up, this is a great option for you to remove your make up and cleanse your skin.  

Retinol: The other "must have" item that is always recommended to use is a type of retinol. From my basic non-dermatologist understanding, retinols are typically purchased over the counter and tretinoin is a prescription. I was prescribed a tretionoin cream by my dermatologist about six years ago, but as I moved several times, and couldn't make it to an actual dermatologist's office (plus most had a 6 month wait list), I started using Dear Brightly. You have an online consultation with a derm (including sending pictures of your skin), and they send you prescription retinol. I love this version of retinol because it is formulated with hyaluronic acid, so I haven't experienced as much of the dryness I did with Retin-A Micro. As I've been a long term retinol user now, I use a stronger strength (0.1%). Not ready to get a prescription tretinoin cream? There are tons of over the counter retinol products in almost every price range, but if you are looking for the biggest change, I'd recommend an Rx, from either your local dermatologist (the generic creams are really not that expensive, as long as your get the generic versions!) or if you can't make it to in person dermatology appointment soon, try an online version like Dear Brightly. Start off slow with a lower concentration, make sure your skin is all the way dry when applying, and make sure you use a moisturizer. 

Moisturizer: At night I like to go a bit heavier on the moisturizing. I'm still loving Vanicream for the days I use my tretinoin cream, and on days I don't use it, I like to use the traditional Nivea cream. I love how thick it goes on, and how soft my skin is in the morning! 

Ointment: This CeraVe ointment has been a recent find (I think I saw it on a TikTok in a video about "slugging") and went out to buy it the next day. I've tried lots of different face oils to help trap in moisture, but this takes it to the next level. I smear it all over my face and I look a little ridiculous because of how greasy I look, but my skin is so so soft  the next day. If you have oily skin, this is not the cream for you, but if you have drier skin like I do...run, don't walk. 

In addition, I also apply this hair strengthening serum in hopes that my postpartum hair loss won't be as bad, and then put my hair in a low pony with a silk hair tie - I have had such bad breakage around the level I wear a messy bun that I'm really trying to break that habit, and have found that this really helps. I also use Lash Boost every other day to keep my eyelashes long and full. 

So that's my quick and dirty skincare routine. It's not 12 steps, but that's why it works for me and the current state of my skin! I'd like to add back a mask or two when I take a bath, so if you have any current loves, I'd love to hear about them!

4 years later...and i'm back!

 

Hello!

Hi. It's been a while...a whole year actually...and basically four years since I consistently posted on my blog.

I started my blog 9 (NINE!) years ago, and documented my way through post-college life, figuring out my personal style, getting in to and starting medical school, break ups, new relationships, daily outfit posts, getting married, buying a house, and getting into residency. But then residency, and the 80 hour work weeks where I wore scrubs 100% of the time started...and blogging just stopped. I was just too tired, and felt I had nothing left to give. And as a style blog, wearing scrubs all the time isn't conducive to a blog that is about buying and wearing clothes. Oh, and then I got pregnant and then really had no time or energy left. 

But here we are, on the other side. I completed my ObGyn residency, moved to Rochester NY with my husband and now two babies. I took 3.5 months off before I start my "real" job and am starting over in so many ways. Here are a few of the things going on: 

• Closet updates. I have hardly purchased any clothing in 4 years, and as now a 33 year old mother of two, I feel I have nothing to wear. I only have a few casual items, the majority are business casual items that may or may not fit me anymore. I'm still dressing very millennial, with my skinny jeans and flats and flowy tops, and honestly that's probably not going to change...I shouldn't be dressing like I'm 17 because I am not 17. But I do want to update a few things so they fit my new life and new body. I've carried, birthed, and fed/am feeding two young children...in 2.5 years. I'm actually about the same size I was before, but everything just fits a bit different now and that also plays a role in how I feel in my old clothes. I also am nursing, and that limits what I can wear too. So I'm buying some new items (hellllllo, new jeans! and loose pretty tops), and will share my thoughts here. Review posts were always my most popular, and I think we can learn together about finding clothes that fit our bodies, lifestyles, and personal style. 
• Home decor. We sold our first home, and are deep in painting and updating our new home! The housing market is insanity but we got so so lucky, and found the perfect house for us to raise our babies in. So I'm excited to share where we started, what our inspiration is, and how we are making it our own. Definitely taking it slow as I want to live here for a bit while trying to see how new pieces could fit into our space, and I also want to find a good balance between new items, and thrifted or upcycling used items. So maybe some interesting DIY posts coming your way. 
• Babies. Parenting has been a wild ride so far. Penny just turned two, and Theo is 3 months old. We have learned a ton over the past two years, but every day is like a new adventure. Excited to keep sharing some of our favorite items, asking for your advice, and just trying to raise kids who don't turn out to be a-holes (truly my biggest motivator). 

Parenting and medicine bring me a lot of joy and fulfillment, but they also take up all of my time that I feel I have very little that is "mine" anymore...and that's why I want to get back in to blogging. For fun. For learning. For myself. I think probably many of you reading can relate - whether it's an all consuming job, family, or responsibility, it's nice to have something that is just "yours". 

So welcome back. I'm so glad we are here. 

dealing with postpartum hairloss

When I was about 3-4 months postpartum, someone asked me on instagram how I was dealing with postpartum hair loss. I wasn't having any yet, and was like "hmmm, maybe this is one of those things I just got lucky and avoided!"

Jokes on me because two months later, my hair was falling out in handfulls. It was honestly disturbing how much hair I was losing every time I washed my hair. Every time I showered, I had huge clumps of hair left over. I seriously dreaded washing my hair. Everyone was commenting on the beautiful head of hair my baby had, while I was losing all of mine!

And then about two months later, I all of a sudden felt my hair looked crazy, because I had all these tiny short hairs along my hair line. Initially I thought it was just the new shampoo I was using, and then I finally realized it was my hair growing back. So not only did I lose a bunch of hair thickness, but then I had all these wirey new hairs growing in along my hairline.

Telogen effluvium is the medical term for diffuse hairloss (and definitely sounds like a Harry Potter spell). It happens after a big triggering event, like delivering a baby, and makes the hair follicles go from the growth phase they are in during pregnancy (which is why many women get thicker hair when they are pregnant) to the resting phase, where hair eventually falls out. It typically happens 3-4 months after that triggering event, which is what happened to me.

There isn't a "cure" for postpartum hair loss unfortunately, and not a ton you can do to prevent it. But there are a few things I found in this process that has helped deal with the hair loss and helping my hair in this journey!

every day // I continued taking a prenatal vitamin after penny's delivery. Not only is that helpful for lactating mothers, but I really believe it makes a difference for hair and nail growth! I don't have any medical knowledge to back that up with, but just something I've noticed personally. I also eat lots of healthy fats in avocados and olive oil, which I think helps.

in the shower // I only wash my hair every 5-6 days (thank you, world's best dry shampoo!). In the shower, I use Amika's purple shampoo for my highlighted hair with this shampoo brush - it helps get a great lather and supposedly stimulates blood flow to the scalp (again, who knows if this truly makes a difference as I don't have any studies to back that up with, but it sure feels good on the scalp!). Then I follow with the It's a 10 deep conditioner. I use a comb to detangle my hair while that is on - this is the traumatic part when you're going to lose a bunch of hair on the brush, but I think it's better to brush in the shower with the conditioner on as it's less tearing at wet hair outside of the shower.

after the shower // After I step out of the shower, I use this microfiber towel that I use by draping across my forehead and then spinning into a bun at the nape of my neck - I feel this pulls less at the hairline than when you drape it on top of your head because it's not pulling at the hairs when you spin it to be on top of your head. I think use several products specifically to help with regrowth, to protect the hairs I do have, and help smooth out the new hairs. First I apply Kerastase's strengthening serum mostly to be hairline and at the top of my head (I use two pipette's worth of product). This stuff is seriously worth it, and I will continue to buy it. It helps strengthen the hairs you have, preventing hairs from breaking off. Since I was already losing whole strands of hair, I didn't want to lose even more due to breakage. Then I apply Living Proof's no-frizz cream - this stuff is great for the frizz that comes with the new hair growth, and a little bit goes a long way. I focus this first on my ends and then at my hairline. After drying my hair, I use this hair oil,  again first on my ends and then on my part. My hair is almost frizz free using these two products, and don't even straighten my hair anymore (which is an extra win since I'm not applying any heat!).

styling // I tried several different products and tricks to try to get the new hairs to lay flat - I even got one of those hair mascara products in hopes it would keep my new hairs down, but it really only worked for like 5 minutes and then they popped back up. I snuck a little bit of my husband's pomade to make the hairs at my hairline lay flat. Several people also had luck spraying some hairspray on an old toothbrush and using that to brush the hairs down! What I really had the most luck with though was just using headbands to get through this regrowth phase! Amazon is a goldmine for headbands. My favorite for work are these yoga headbands and these floral ones - I get compliments every time I wear them! I love the look of the Lele Sadoughi headbands but $150 for a headband is not something I can afford, so this pack of headbands in a similar style is a great alternative - I've worn these to several weddings and events and love the look of them! I just found this pack of 12 headbands that are now in my Amazon cart...my husband probably won't be too happy about even more headbands but when you wear them so often, you can't help but want a few more!

In the end, it's "just hair" and motherhood is hard enough without beating yourself up about your hair, so we all need to give ourselves some grace when it comes to how we think we look in the postpartum (or any time) period. The several times I brought up my crazy hair regrowth in real life or on instagram, every one said they didn't even notice! So it's like all things, we are always our worst critics! But I hope these little tips help you get through the months of losing and regrowing your hair. Would love to hear any other tips from all you experienced ladies!

clothing review: falling for instagram ads

Hello and welcome to my post about how I fell for internet ads. It only took me about four weeks to write this post, so we can thank motherhood and residency for that ;)

Okay so many of us have seen the Marine Layer ads on instagram for their tulip shaped Allison pants. I just loved the casual but pulled together look of the pants so after about the 20th ad, I finally ordered a pair. They come in sizes XS-XL, is made of a polyester/elastane combo, and retail for $98 (you can sign up for their emails and get 10% off your first order)

I find taking pictures of pants so difficult because it's hard to show how they really fit versus just how they feel, especially with black pants because pictures can forgive so much. Like in these pictures, I think they look cute and comfy!

But as much as I wanted to LOVE these pants, they just didn't fit me well. You can see it better in the picture below:

day in the life: labor & delivery

This post is sponsored by HelloFresh. Thank you for supporting the companies who support and feed my own family!

This is a "typical" day in the life of a third year ObGyn resident. As always, details have been changed or omitted. 

5:07 // My alarm isn't supposed to go off for another 23 minutes, but Penny doesn't really care about alarms and wants to nurse and cuddle now. I scoop her out of her pack n plan, and nurse and hold her for the next 25 minutes before putting her back down to sleep. Chris will get up in about an hour and get himself and the baby ready, and will take her to daycare.

penny favorites: 6-9 months

0-3 month favorites

3-6 month favorites

Penny turns 9 months old today! That is wild. She has just grown so much in the last few months - she now has opinions and makes them known! She's really starting to enjoy eating real foods, is working on crawling, can almost pull herself up on things, and can actually spend a little bit of time entertaining herself. This is such a fun age! Compared to previous months, some of our favorite items revolved more around toys than practical items - but that's what makes it so fun!

Teething Tubes // I kept seeing ads for these teething tubes and once Penny's first teeth started popping through, I figured why not. Turns out she loves her little teething tube! She is constantly chewing on it and playing with it and slobbering all over it. They are made out of silicone, are easily cleaned in soapy water, and overall a hit! Penny is working on some of her back teeth now and is obsessed more than ever before. 

Board Books // Instead of cards for our baby shower, we received books, so we have an awesome little library for Penny...but six months in, I realized that both Penny and I really enjoyed the board books with stories, rather than just pictures. She likes turning the pages, and I like having something to actually read! A few of our favorites are the Pout Pout Fish (the original is the best but some of the other ones are cute too), Giraffes Can't Dance, Love from Me to You, and Courageous People Who Changed the World. Currently in our Amazon basket we have Llama Llama Red Pajama, If Animals Kissed Goodnight, and The Little Blue Truck. Any other favorites we should add? 

Bapron // The last three months have been a whole new world of eating for Penny. We are doing half and half purees and baby led weaning - she gets purees at daycare and a bit at home, and then we generally give her adult food that's appropriate for her to try as well. That can get messy quick. I love our little baby apron! It's great for messier foods as it covers a bit more of her clothes, it's easily washed in the sink, and dries quickly. Plus the patterns they have are so cute! 

Magnetic Stacking Bear // This was a random instagram buy from Manhatten Toys that Penny LOVES. It's her favorite toy. She likes banging the pieces together, biting the parts, knocking stacks we make over, and talking to the little bear head. I like that it's a wood toy with non-toxic finishes that is easily cleaned off with soap and water. This would be a cute Easter present!

Sensory Teether // Teething is obviously a big theme for this age - I found this toy at Target and Penny held on to it the whole rest of the shopping trip. The soft tubes must feel good on her little gums and the different colors and parts keep her entertained. Plus again, it's easily washable! 

Stokke Highchair // I spent a lot of timing research high chairs - different styles, sizes, colors, everything! Everything kept pointing towards the Stokke high chair. I loved the minimalistic design, the fact that it grows with the baby from infant to childhood, that it's fairly easily cleaned, and that it has a foot rest for the baby so it sits in a more natural position for eating. I saved a Visa giftcard we received after Penny was born and used a 20% off coupon to make the price tolerable for us. We are very happy with this purchase!

Leather Moccasins // This is kind of a random item in the list since I haven't included other baby clothing, but we just love these little moccasins. They are very similar to the Freshly Picked mocs but for like half the price. Our first sets were a little gold set and a blush set and she wears them every day. Penny loves to pull her socks off her feet, so having soft shoes on makes it harder for her to bare her little feet! Plus I think they are just adorable - they even have ones with red bottom soles! 

Building Blocks // I've been a huge Bannor Toys fan since Penny was born - I got her a teether soon after she was born she plays with every day! For Christmas, I got both her and her cousin a set of their wood and silicone blocks. We play with these every single day! They are fun for us since we can build her little buildings or stacks and she gets to knock them over, she can chew on the blocks, and bang them together. I know this is something that she will grow with over the next few years, and it's probably my biggest recommendation on this list!