Glam Sweatshirts

For my birthday I asked Elliott not to send my gifts out because I will be home early in December. I know he puts a lot of time and effort into shopping and I want to give him the satisfaction of watching me open them. The perfect boyfriend that he is, he sent me a sneak preview gift- a gorgeous beaded sweatshirt from J.Crew. This is a trend that I really love. It takes me back to my days when I had a Beadazzler and used to put studs all over everything. This is just way more chic!

I know it will look great with jeans and boots for a casual weekend look, but I always like to check the J.Crew website to see how they have styled it. I was totally inspired to wear it professionally to school with a skirt and tights. I love when you can wear one thing in so many ways!

Justin Timberlake

Tonight I am finally having my real birthday celebration with my bestie Ally. We are going to the Justin Timberlake concert. I have been trying to plan something to wear that is fun, wintry (as I can get in LA) and looks cool without trying. I was dying to get those leather leggings into my weekend rotation, but it didn't happen so they will have to come out on a Tuesday!

Wisdom

Thank you Rue La La for this little nugget.

Leather Leggings

Sometimes when I see a trend I am not too sure about I won't just jump right in and embrace it. I need to Pinterest and people watch so I can see how people are wearing it. I have felt kind of iffy about leather leggings for awhile. I wasn't really sure if they would look very good on me or if they were a piece I wanted to invest in for my wardrobe. What changed my mind was when I saw this amazing post from Gal Meets Glam where she wore the leggings here. This is such a cool casual look, yet it is also so chic. It also doesn't hurt that I have been wanting this hat from J.Crew so badly. I am still trying to find a less expensive option for that piece too!

Simply Vera by Vera Wang Faux Leather Leggings, $27, Kohls.com

When I saw these leggings online at Kohl's I could not resist going to see them in person. It was love at first sight. The faux leather looks and feels great and they were super comfortable. I can't wait to pair them with tunics, button downs and blazers and big comfy sweaters. The price was great too because I hate to invest in a piece that I think may just be a passing trend. I know these were a great buy and are going to be in serious rotation for going out for dinner or drinks on the weekend.

Here are some other cute ways to wear leather leggings!

Happy Birthday to Us!

I love sharing my birthday month with Kiran and Kendall. We had a great birthday Potluck with way, way too much cake! Thank you to Josh for taking these great pictures of us!

Beauty

As the holiday season approaches and party and get together invitations come rolling in, it is important to make sure you have the right products to get you through the season. I have learned that whether you want to save or splurge there are great items at every price point to do the job that you need.

Color Club On the Rocks Nail Polish, $6, Birchbox.com

I love this nail color from Color Club so much that I put it on immediately after finding it in my Birchbox. The color is subtle but fun, great for parties but also can work for daily wear in between! The Color Club nail polish goes on smoothly and dries quickly. It is sold out on Birchbox.com right now, but hopefully they get some more in soon!

Suave Rosemary and Mint Shampoo, $3, Target

I love this shampoo (and the conditioner too!). The smell is great and really fills the shower when you are lathering up. It makes me feel calm and relaxed. It is so cheap but works as great as any other expensive products I have tried. I often get shampoos and conditioners to try in my Birchbox, but even though I like some of them, this drugstore find is truly my favorite!

e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer, $6, eyeslipsface.com

This face primer is a super find. The price point is excellent and it allows smooth application of my makeup and keeps it in place all day. I think the Smashbox primers are amazing, but at $42 a pop, those can get pricy to maintain very quickly. This low-priced option does exactly what it aims to and doesn't empty my wallet. Love it!

2 for 1

Starbucks is celebrating the return of the holiday red cups and their specialty drinks with happy hour for the next 3 days. From now until the 17th, from 2-5pm, you can buy one holiday and drink and get one free. My personal favorite is the gingerbread latte. Tastes just like a freshly made cookie! Enjoy!

Things I Am Excited For

November is pretty much my favorite month of the year. I absolutely love late fall- the weather, the clothes, the return of the red cups at Starbucks. It also happens to be the month of my birth and the month of my favorite holiday- Thanksgiving! It's a no stress holiday. The main focus is eating, not gift giving or decking the halls. You just find some comfy pants and enjoy the mashed potatoes.

The next few weeks are going to be hectic to say the least. Clinical exams to complete, oral pathology and prosth exams and more interviews. Aside from all the chaos there are a quite a few things to look forward to and I can't wait to enjoy them all.

...November Birthdays...
For years I was the only one in my friend group with a November birthday, but now most of my closest dental school friends share my birth month. It makes for pretty much a month long of celebrations. Between meeting up for drinks, theme parties and pot lucks, my social calendar is pretty full this month and I couldn't be happier.

Brian and Mike's 80s Birthday Bash

...Killer Sales...
Black Friday and the weeks before offers some of the best shopping of the year. Today I scored a new Michael Kors iPhone case for $10 at DSW. J.Crew Factory was offering an extra 25% off for cardholders. ASOS has been sending emails for clearance items up to 70% off. If there is something you have been lusting over, now is the time to get it. I used to get up super early to get the Black Friday sales, but now the savings goes on all month long and there is no need to wake early from your post-Thanksgiving Tryptophan coma.

...Interviews at Home...
I am getting an extra 48 hours of time at home because I have a few GPR interviews. Even though it is just 12 days before Christmas break begins, I am super happy to get some pre-holiday time with my boyfriend and family, celebrate my (belated) birthday at home and get some real pizza in early December. I have been thinking of having my birthday dinner with my boy at Union League Cafe in New Haven. I love going to my old favorites, but sometimes it's good to branch out and try something new.

...Courtney Loves Dallas...
I am super excited for the premiere of Courtney Kerr's new show on Bravo. Her style is impeccable and I am pretty sure if I lived in Texas we would be besties. Her wit, honesty and closet make her my absolute favorite blogger out there and I can't wait to be able to tune in on Thursdays and catch her antics and get style tips from every episode.

Blogger Courtney Kerr, whatcourtneywore.com

The Perfect Blazer

I fell in love with a beautiful hunter green blazer the other day at J.Crew but with a $278 price tag I knew it would not be mine unless it went on serious after-Christmas sale. Today I went to Factory armed with my 20% off birthday month coupon and found a perfect compromise. With a price point $100 less, 30% off sale, my coupon and a $50 gift card from a gift I had to return over the summer, I finally chose a perfect camel colored school boy blazer that I know will be a staple in my wardrobe all fall and winter. I love that certain items will just stay classic forever. This is definitely one of them. The wheels are already spinning in my head thinking of how I can style it for Christmas. I also cannot wait to pair it with a crisp white button down, jeans and flats for running around with friends when it finally gets cool in California.

Thanks Factory for making my blazer dreams come true!

Positive Is How I Live

Over the weekend I met up with Elliott's parents in Temecula. It was a gorgeous weekend day of wine tasting. His mom is so sweet and she surprised me with a new Alex and Ani bracelet. The Positive Is How I Live bracelet supports the Joe Andruzzi Foundation which provides financial and emotional support for cancer patients. Considering all the chaos of the past few weeks and what lies ahead as interview season starts, I couldn't think of a more perfect mantra for myself.

Best I Ever Had

With only 211 days before graduation (yes, people are counting) it only seems fitting to show a little love to some of the best friends a girl could ask for. Would never have made it through the days without these guys. On a side note, the new Gavin DeGraw CD is amazing. Do yourself a favor and get it now. I promise it's the best you've ever had.

Photo Credit to Christina Vu <3

Umami

On Thursday afternoon we had a serious treat- a half day of school! We almost never have any afternoons off so we knew we had to make the most of it. The weather was cool and I was so excited to spend some time outside and enjoy the beautiful (almost) fall weather. I was even able to wear my J.Crew field jacket and a scarf to walk around. Josh and I headed to Pasadena for some pre-interview season shopping. I had hoped to find a shirt to wear under my suit. Unfortunately there wasn't much to match with my brown skirt and jacket, but I did get a pretty coral swing sweater on clearance at J.Crew. The big win of the day came at lunch. We stumbled upon Umami Burger and decided we needed to give it a try. No lie, this was the best burger of my life. I ordered the Truffle Burger medium rare. I almost never order my meat that way, but our waiter suggested that we have the burger cooked like that to get the full flavor of the meat. I am so glad I listened! The burger literally melted in your mouth. The bun was perfect and stamped with the signature "U", the ketchup was homemade and full of tomato flavor and the fries were shoestring cut and crispy. We basically ate in silence relishing in the utter deliciousness of it all. I highly recommend it to all red meat eaters. Umami takes the cake! This is the best burger in LA!

Photo credit: Josh Hoa Pham

Rock Stars

On Friday night I went to the Bon Jovi concert with the besties, Kendall and Christina. It was a last minute decision after finding a deal on Travel Zoo. We had dinner at L.A. Live at Rosa Mexicano. It was so good! My cheese enchiladas and the mound of freshly baked tortilla chips were delicious! The concert was super fun; we could not get over how energetic Jon Bon Jovi was. He sang and danced all over the stage for almost 3 hours. Whooaaaaaa Livin' On a Prayer!!!

Silly Stuff

One of my favorite things is picking up silly accessories at Forever 21. They have something for everyone. I love that you can pick up some really trendy or unique pieces there at a low price point. No need to invest in something that might go out of style quickly. This weekend on a shopping trip with my friend Stella, we grabbed some cute finds at the Ontario Mills Forever 21.

Cozy Spotted Pom Pom Beanie, $8.80

Dinosaur Stud Trio, $2.80

I think these would be cute mixed and matched! Perfect for a trip to the museum or even for everyday!

Fall Colors

I got this new nail polish over the weekend at Kohl's. I didn't even realize they sold Essie polish in the beauty department there. I chose Ballerina Slippers because it is a perfect neutral for school. The color almost looks like you don't have anything on. The After School Boy Blazer is from the new fall collection. I love that it is a flat navy color with no sparkle or sheen. I can't wait for a few days off from clinic at the end of the week to try this one out.

Be A Peach

Lately the instagram of Miss Courtney Kerr has been filled with inspiration. I have been feeling like there are some days where I put a lot in: I spend a little extra time getting ready in the morning so I look really put together; I get to school early and am super prepared for the day ahead; I help people in little ways that I don't want recognition for. But there are still some people that never seem to be quite satisfied. I am the type of person that takes everything to heart. I am realizing more and more that you need to let things slide off your back most of the time. Maybe the other person is just genuinely unhappy and no matter what you do you cannot please them. Maybe they have nothing better to do than worry about you.  Life is too short to spend your time worrying about these kind of people. The best advice I have heard all week: "Be a peach."

Eyes.Lips.Face

Ever since I started getting my Birch Boxes in the mail I have been a lot more interested in learning about makeup and beauty products. I love the stuff that I get in the box and the tutorials they post during the month. I noticed that the girls in the videos always have great makeup. Their eyelashes look long and full, their nails freshly painted and their lips in some awesome color. While I will never be a slave to beauty, dental school certainly doesn't permit the time, I thought it would be fun to learn more about the proper brushes and new products that I have never used before. Instead of going on a $500 shopping spree at Sephora to try some new tools, I perused eyeslipsface.com. This site is amazing! They have tons of brushes and products for, you guessed it, your eyes, lips and face. They also do nails. I am sure these products are not quite up to par with some of the things you could purchase at a high end makeup counter at Bloomie's, but I am super satisfied with the first shipment I received. I used Pinterest to help me pair up some of the best (and expensive) brands' colors with exact copies from E.L.F. Everything was spot on. For those of you that swear by Urban Decay's Naked palette ($50), I was able to score the exact some colors in a palette for $6. Makeup artists swear by Nars Orgasm blush; E.L.F. makes that one too. Brushes and beauty tools range from $1-$6. My new favorite lip exfoliator was $3. If you want to try new colors and new tools you absolutely cannot beat the prices on this site and they offer free shipping on every order over $35. 

Now I am not saying that you should never splurge again. I have recently gotten addicted to Benefit's Hoola bronzer and Porefessional and I will probably continue to purchase those at Ulta. But as far as new brushes go, if they start to get kind a little sad looking after a few months, toss them and buy another for $1. That has to be way better for your skin and also your wallet than constantly purchasing expensive brush shampoo (which E.L.F. sells too for $3) or replacing high end brushes from MAC or Sephora. 

I found out this week that they sell their products at Target and Walgreens so if you don't think you can rack up $35 worth of products for the free shipping, you can snatch up most of what is online at the store. I really like this brand and the great products that they have. On a dental school budget it's a no brainer to try some of these out!

Game of Thrones

I don't know why I am sort of embarrassed to say it but I am obsessed with Game of Thrones. I don't want to give away any spoilers or anything but it is such an addicting show. I love the overlapping plot lines, the costumes and the English accents (even when they are a bit off). I was totally resistant to start watching it; a friend gave my roommate the first three seasons and I reluctantly let her put one episode on when there was nothing on TV. It takes some time to get into it in the beginning. We had to re-watch some episodes and look at some websites that explain how everyone is related and where they come from. Once we got the hang of it though, we were totally hooked. I am halfway through the second season and I am getting nervous to reach the end of the third. The fourth season isn't scheduled to air until early 2014 and that's still a few months away. I am thinking I may have to read the books in the mean time and see how they measure up. Normally I like to read the books before watching the show or movie, but I am glad this time I made an exception. If you are looking for something new to get into on TV and want something with plenty of episodes to watch, I highly recommend Game of Thrones.

This weekend I am going to be interviewing applicants for the class of 2018. It is absolutely crazy to think I will not even be at school anymore when these students start in the fall. I wish them the best of luck in the interview process. It feels like yesterday I was in their shoes and I am very grateful to be sitting on the other side of the table now.

It's Fall After All

It's hard to be believe how quickly September flew by. Everyone told me fourth year would go by in a flash, but I never could have imagined that I would find myself two months into the semester this fast. It feels like yesterday that I was coming back from Connecticut after August break. This has been a tough semester. Clinical exams are always looming. Boards are complete but I am still waiting for my results. I scored an externship at Yale for a week which is exciting and super scary. I even have two GPR interviews coming up in the next few months.

One of the ways I love to de-stress and focus on something other than school is reading blogs. My favorites are the College Prepster, Gal Mets Glam and What Courtney Wore. These women have inspired me in every way- from what to wear to where to eat, how to organize my life and what new products to try. It is important for women to be able to share their thoughts and ideas with each other and I think blogging has given us a way to connect with and learn from each other.

I also am a serious Pinterest addict. I love finding recipes and testing them out in my kitchen. I have been trying to incorporate some Paleo meals into my life and this has been a great source of ideas. I have been buying organic chicken and grass-fed beef from Trader Joe's. I wish we had a Whole Foods closer, but I am thinking a trek out to Pasadena will be in the cards for the weekend so I can stock up on the non-perishable items that I need to make some Paleo desserts to keep my sweet tooth satisfied.

When I was younger I had a book called Freddy the Leaf which I am sure you can guess was about a leaf. He changes color and falls from the the tree. It was kind of a sad story, but it was also really beautiful. While spring is the time of rebirth, fall also feels like a new beginning to me. I am excited so wee what changes in my life come with the changing of the leaves.

Best in Brunch

Brunch is by far my favorite meal. You get the best parts of breakfast and lunch in a menu and there are always mimosas. When I made plans to meet some other Connecticut transplant friends I knew I had to take them to Tart at the Farmer's Daughter Hotel. I had been their once before celebrating a birthday and we loved the place. We had the Whole Family Punch Bowl again with orange juice, champagne and vodka. It was a little large for 3 people to share but at $25 it was the obvious choice, for the price and because we could serve ourselves in Mason Jar glasses.

The outdoor area is secluded from the street and has a very cool vibe. There was a man playing banjo all morning; it almost felt like we weren't in LA anymore. I definitely recommend it for groups. They have bottomless mimosas also and never rush you out. I really loved the mason jar mugs and want to get some for my new place next year. I think they would be so fun when we host friends. What are some other great brunch spots in LA?

Last Weekend Before Freedom...I Hope

Tomorrow I finally take Part II of my dental boards. Thank goodness! I am cranky, burnt out from studying and feeling claustrophobic in this apartment. I have been trying to have faith in myself that I can get through this, but if all else fails, I can enjoy some mimosas on Wednesday when I have a day off from school.

Motto of the Week

Love this! We all need to go after what we want sometimes. Kanye should be just as afraid of strong powerful goal diggers as he is of gold diggers.

Goals for the week:

1. Make it through the end of my boards studying! My test is Monday.

2. Eat healthy and exercise. Need to feel good this week to keep myself healthy and spirits up.

3. Be present for my patients. Despite being stressed I want them to know I am there for them!

What are your goals for the week?

Weekend Wrapped

Even though my boards exam is only a week away from today, I took some time out over the weekend to de-stress and see my friends. On Saturday morning I attended an amazing bridal shower for my friend Christina at the Tranquil Tea Lounge in Fullerton. It was a beautiful place with a perfect room for an intimate get together. The teas were incredible and the paninis, salad and scones were delicious. The best part by far was the milk and berries cake from Porto's Bakery supplied by Cherish. She really could have a second career as an event planner.

The presentation of everything was so perfect for a bridal shower. This lavender and white chocolate scone was mouth-watering. We played fun games like naming famous celeb couples (I rocked at that!) and guessing Christina's age in pictures of her growing up (not so good at that). It was so great to be included in her celebration and I cannot wait for the wedding in November. Doesn't everyone look so pretty?!

I ended my night by enjoying one of my party favors and finishing up Practice Test J. Champs in a mini bottle with a straw may just be my new drink of choice. Classy and fun, right?

On Sunday night I was thrilled to attend my first Kings game at Staples Center. Forget the Lakers, that place was made for hockey. I got the seats from a friend with season tickets and he sits in the upper corner behind the net, last row. Great spot to view the game. You can tell when you are sitting in a true hockey lover's seats. The goaltending by the Kings was horrendous and hearing people yelling at Garon to go back to Philly made my night. Thank goodness for Quick the Connecticut boy. It was a great excuse to head downtown and I can't wait to go back and see another game and enjoy some dinner in the area. It was a great weekend. Sometimes I don't know how I am going to leave this place.

Bring on the Boots!

One of my favorite parts about fall, real fall that is when the weather actually gets chilly, is pulling my boots out from the back of the closet. After months of hibernation they can finally debut themselves again back in my wardrobe. It can be hard for me to work boots into my professional wardrobe, but they are definitely my weekend go to for shopping, errands and fun with friends. I am super excited to try pairing my boots with white jeans this fall. I think the contrast between the brown leather and the white pants will be really chic and it will extend the life of my favorite jeans for months. 

Even Jennifer Aniston has been spotting wearing this trend. Will you try it? C'mon, everybody's doing it! 

White After Labor Day

After Memorial Day I got the perfect pair of white jeans at C.Wonder. I blogged a while ago about how much I like that store, but the amazing cut and fit of these jeans made me love it 10x more. Elliott convinced me they were a must, even though I was wary of my klutzy self in white, and he was right because they look really great and I have made a lot of use out of them on cool Los Angeles nights. Since I am a shorty, the cropped jeans fit me like a regular length jean.

Cropped Stretch White Jean, C.Wonder

I was getting kind of sad that Labor Day has come and gone and it would soon be time to retire them until next year. Then I started flipping through Pinterest fashion boards and all I saw people pinning and talking about wearing white jeans for fall. I was psyched! Of course I live in Southern California currently so we don't get the slushy, rainy season for months and months from now, but everyone can throw on their boots and rock their white jeans into the cooler weather. In my posts over the next few days I am going to prove it!

Mad for Plaid

Nothing says fall to me like when J.Crew Factory starts stocking racks and racks of plaid button downs. No matter how many I own, they always come out with new styles and patterns that I have to have.

1. Top It With A Great Fall Jacket

On Black Friday a few years ago I got a really nice camel-colored faux leather jacket at Express for 60% off. It was such a score and has been a constant staple in my fall wardrobe since I picked it up. Layering a plaid shirt under a great fall jacket is the perfect way to show you know what season it is, but wearing white after Labor Day is a fashion faux pas of the past.

2. Work In Dark Colors

Black blazers, black shoes, black bag. All of these items say colder weather because of the color and pair up perfectly with plaid. Exchange your summer handbag for something in dark brown or black leather with large metal detailing. Trade wedges for a black bootie. Style your white denim the same as you would blue and it will work when the temperature drops.

3. Mix Prints

I always wear leopard as a neutral. I constantly pair my leopard pumps with my orange J.Crew Minnie pants. It may seem like a weird combination, but animal prints are very fall and look great with plaid. Tie it in with a leopard clutch or shoe and be guaranteed to make a statement.

4. Fur Is Fun

I love a fur vest. It doesn't always get really cold here in Southern California but a vest works to keep you warm without overheating. Layer plaid with a fur vest, maybe even belting it if you will be wearing it for a day outside when you won't be constantly removing it. Faux fur vests are an expensive piece that you can find at places like Forever 21 in a variety of shades. Another great way to find some fur to work into your wardrobe is to raid your grandmother's closet. I have gotten some great fur-collared coats and sweaters and stoles that she and my great aunts wore to parties and dances when they were young. 

5. Plaid Doesn't Just Have to Be In Button Down Form

Buffalo print in red and black always gets really popular at this time of year. Lots of brands use that print for fleece jackets. I especially like short, boxy jacket styles so the print doesn't overwhelm. A coat like that would look great over white denim. I have also seen a lot of loafers in tartan plaid. I can picture a nice solid-colored cashmere sweater, a beautiful statement necklace and white jeans paired with some plaid smoking slipper styled shoes. Gap and J.Crew would be great companies to help you construct that look.

Hope you are starting to believe in this trend that I love! Look out for more ways to wear white denim into fall over the next few days. 

Philip Lim x Target

I love Target. I love the fact that by the time I have made a loop around the store I have bought a bathing suit, batteries, hand towels and Special K bars. It's my one stop shop for the random things I need, or think I need, in my life. So far I haven't been that enthralled with the Target designer collaborations. The Christmas collection with Neiman Marcus was overpriced and everything ended up on ridiculous clearance. A lot of the designers that they have worked with have been absolutely amazing, but it can be hard to translate fashion that normally costs hundreds or even thousands of dollars into a thirty dollar piece. Leather is leather, my friends. So when I heard that Target was teaming up with Philip Lim I did not set my expectations too high because his stuff is out of this world and I could not imagine how it would translate to Target level. What really tipped me over the edge of being excited to see this collection is that my favorite blogger and fashionista, Courtney Kerr, was involved in the ad campaign.

How adorable does she look here both in the ad and next to it?

Philip Lim does bags. Like he DOES them. When I see someone carrying one of his pieces I seriously think you are the luckiest girl in the world to be able to have that masterpiece of a handbag. Someday...

The Pashli Medium Satchel in all its glory, $825

The shape and zippers of this bag make me drool. The color is out of this world. So is the price tag at $825. Not in the dental school budget. 

Philip Lim x Target Mini Satchel, $35

I am hoping this one at a great price point does the trick for me. The shape is similar and the color is nice for fall. Mustard always looks so spectacular with navy; truly one of my most favorite color combinations for when it gets chilly. I will be interested to see what the look and feel of this bags is in person before I make a decision to buy. The Philip Lim x Target collection debuts in store on September 15th. 

Why I Can't Skip the Gym

My trainer sent this out after our workout at the gym yesterday. So much for getting a break in this humidity. When is this heat wave going to end? I am running out of sleeveless shirts to wear.