Spring shopping + some birth stories

I figured that since I've been getting so much use out of my maxi skirts, I should try a maxi dress. I picked this one up for 40% off at Gap thinking that it would be postpartum and breastfeeding friendly (I did order one size up to accommodate for both). I like that I can dress it down with a jean jacket and sandals or dress it up with heels and a cardi (I'm thinking rehearsal dinner dress for the weddings that I'm in this summer?)

And a couple other spring shopping purchases were this denim jacket from J. Crew Factory and these awesome Old Navy sandals that I blogged about last week (they are suprisingly comfortable). I bought the J. Crew Nolita denim jacket a couple years ago on final sale, but I ended up giving it to my mom who is a few inches shorter than me with a shorter torso. It never quite fit me right (too cropped for my frame) and I'm way happier with the cut of the J. Crew Factory version.

Maxi dress: Gap

Denim jacket: J. Crew Factory

Shoes: Old Navy 

Necklace: Madewell (old)

The sun is finally out and *most* of the snow is melted (still a few piles here and there) so I'm thinking it's a good time for baby M to make his appearance? I've been taking my evening primrose oil, drinking some rasberry leaf tea, and continuing the many, many squats I've been doing these last  couple of months but I don't think any of it is really doing much. If anything, I have less cramping that I had between 33 and 36 weeks ha. And baby is only getting bigger...and bigger. I'm thinking about trying this Hypnobaby "Come OUT baby" track, suggested by my sister-in-law, but Stephen is definitely against it.

And for Five Favs this week, here's a round-up of some natural birth stories that I've been reading:

1. Anne's birth story was really encouraging to me, since she makes a natural birth seem totally feasible (not easy, but feasible)

2. I can't believe that Martha was 10 cm when they first checked her at the hospital - that is awesome.

3.  Sarah's birth story is another great natural birth story.

4. And so is Katrina's.

5. Lastly, for the craziest of them all (and then some), is Indiana's.

Let's hope mine isn't nearly as crazy. Linking up with Five Favorites and What I Wore Wednesday.

Pink Blush giveaway + what I wore Weds

I wore this outfit out to dinner with Stephen the other night and he approved. 

I'm discovering that it isn't exactly easy to find things to wear these last weeks of pregnancy; a lot of my former favorite shirts don't quite reach over the belly anymore. But this tunic is perfect: I love the length, it fits without looking like a tent, and it's my favorite shade of burgundy. It's also wonderfully versatile (with a scarf, cardi, vest, jeans, leggings, etc.) which is a must for maternity wear since the same few pieces end up on repeat. I had a hard time deciding on this tunic though, because Pink Blush has so much great maternity wear (their maternity clothing is both trendy and reasonably priced!). Some of my favorite maternity clothes on their site: this top and this one, this dress (which I reaaaallly want but is probably not practically with only a few weeks left to go) and this skirt. They're graciously giving away a $25 gift card to a reader, and you can enter below...

And 5 favorites this week (clearly last rotation of med school = lots of time on Pinterest):

1. This quote (a beautiful life philosophy)

2. Pink peonies (so gorgeous and spring-y)

3. Such a pretty dress, courtesy of Boden

4. A lovely, simple outfit (and another one)

5. And lastly, this video on real beauty that I saw on the Today Show this morning (made me cry - thank you pregnancy hormones).

Top: Pink Blush, c/o

Vest: J. Crew Factory

Jeans: J. Brand Maternity

Booties: Sam Edelman (thrifted)

Linking up with Pleated Poppy and Hallie

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Santa Fe!

No, I've never been there. Although I'd love to be there right now while the snow is piling up and the temp is barely hitting the teens (not counting wind chill). Potential baby-moon perhaps? Anyways, Santa Fe is the name of the new collection by Dansko which they so graciously sent me and my sister to try.

Vest: Gap

Top: Lulu Lemon

Leggings: J. Crew

Scarf: Gift from my brother from Afghanistan

Shoes: Dansko

 Jacket: AK Burton via T.J. Maxx

Hoodie: American Eagle

Leggings: Calvin Klein activewear

Scarf: Street vendor in Vienna

Shoes: Dansko

This is my little (but much taller) sister Ingrid. She's a dietician and we both currently work at the same hospital and (very) occasionally are mistaken for each other (although I don't think we look alike). She was my maid of honor and gave the most beautiful toast that I have ever heard at a wedding. She also always finds the cutest workout clothes at T. J. Maxx. And she loves her new Santa Fe's and based on the picture above is clearly much more expressive about it than me.

So here they are, the Shaylas. Perfect shoes for running errands, going walking, wearing with scrubs, exercise class...and they come in lots of fun colors. I tested them out last weekend at Zumba and I couldn't believe how great the arch support is (both Ingrid and I have flat feet). Disclaimer that they are probably not meant for the snow but we have to improvise up north, ha (and they held up just fine).

Check out the collection here; I love the blue and silver because it's so versatile (and it's the brightest, prettiest shade of blue) but I almost wish that I would have gotten the fun blue/teal/lime green ones. You can enter to win your own pair here!

Linking up with the Pleated Poppy.

An outfit + Five Favorites

Jacket: J. Crew

Scarf: Etsy (old)

Shirt: H&M (gift)

Leggings: J. Crew

5 Favorites this week:

1. These shoes. Could they be any more gorgeous? They are also impractical for me for a multitude of reasons, the two most important being that they are  too expensive and happen to have an almost 4 inch heel. But they are oh so pretty to look at. 

 






2. Not Your Mother's hair products. I first saw the Beach Babe sea salt spray on Grace's blog and now I can't live without it. I've since tried four other products from this line (Target now carries most of them and Ulta has them all) and my favorites are:

3. The Clean Freak dry shampoo, which happens to be $4.25 at Target and works just about as well as the $20 stuff I've used in the past (it also doesn't leave that awful white film in your hair that some dry shampoos do)...

4. And the Beat the Heat thermal shield spray, which smells so wonderful and doesn't make my hair crunchy.

Has anyone tried the Girl Power hair powder? I'm wondering if it works as well as this one.

5. Some links that I'm loving around the web this week:

This post on travel essentials (old, but I found it on Pinterest this week)...I own something similar to most of the essentials and am keeping this list for my many travels over the next two months.

This article on marriage which is so very true.

This adorable announcement (I might be a little over-excited about our May babies-on-the-way).

Linking up with Hallie and the Pleated Poppy.

Fall uniform

This is my third straight month in scrubs: August was OB/GYN and last month and this month are both ER. While they're comfy and it makes dressing in the morning a lot easier/quicker, I'm desperately missing wearing 'normal' clothes during my favorite time of year, fall.

I've found myself gravitating towards neutrals of late. This cargo jacket was an investment purchase even on sale, but it's the perfect fall piece. Adding a scarf makes it a little more girly. And the boots? I found them on Amazon Warehouse late spring, supposedly defective for $50 but I couldn't find any defects when I got them in the mail. Desiree started my obsession with them.

I'm headed to the ER tonight and I have to admit that switching shifts every day along with working mostly evening/late night shifts is really starting to wear on me. I'm definitely ready for some time off next month for residency interviews. 

Jacket: J. Crew

Tunic: Splendid via 6pm.com

Boots: Steve Madden, clearance via Amazon Wearhouse

Ponte pants: J. Crew Factory

Outfit inspiration:

Via

Linking up with the Pleated Poppy, Shanna, and Lauren.

Five favorites...and a flying baby

Linking up with Hallie for Five Favorites:

1. The flying baby: Lest you think that I am exaggerating by the title, let me assure you that I am not. Right now I can absolutely not imagine any crazier delivery than the one that happened yesterday. The laboring mom was a resident patient, and since she had already undergone two successful vaginal deliveries, the residents let me do the delivery pretty much solo. Normally when I deliver the resident patients, the chief resident stands next to me in case of emergency, but like I said this one was just so 'easy' that they deemed it unnecessary. The mom's first big push let me mostly but not completely deliver the baby's head, and then came the second push. The baby shot out like a cannonball with momentum that I never dreamed any newly emerging baby could have. I somehow managed to catch the baby mid-air (and off to the side) and stood in complete shock holding the slippery new babe safely in my arms, while the watching nurses/resident/attending doc let out a huge gasp and then collective sigh of relief. The attending doc claimed that he has never seen a baby fly out so fast. I am now known as the med-student-who-caught-the-flying-baby (so thankful it's not the-med-student-who-dropped-the-flying-baby). Craziest.delivery.ever.

2. Loving your work: I realized yesterday that while I did not feel at all like getting out of bed at 5:30 a.m. (it was painful), the day just got better and better during my shift on labor and delivery. I was contemplating driving home how great it is to love your work, and how important it is to choose a profession that makes getting up in the morning worth it and each day meaningful (especially when that profession requires 80 hour work weeks, night call, and 24 hour shifts).

3. This outfit: Of course it's a cheater since I'm in scrubs every day here (outfit pics taken before I left for St. Louis). I wore this for Stephen and I's last dinner date: floral scarf from Zara, a bright blazer from J. Crew, my favorite shoes, and trusty pixie pants from J. Crew Factory (which now come in maternity from the retail store...and I do not not need them, I promise).

4. Our anniversary: Our first anniversary is August 31, but since we won't be together next weekend, we are going to celebrate this weekend when Stephen visits. I had no idea what to get him for an anniversary gift, but I'm pretty excited on what I found (not sharing yet in the off chance that he reads this post...)

5. Stephen coming to visit this weekend: Enough said.

Blazer: J. Crew

Tunic: Splendid via 6pm.com

Ponte pants: J. Crew Factory

Scarf: Zara

Shoes: same as always from Madewell

Also linking up with the Pleated Poppy, Agi, and Tara/Bonnie.

Summer Workwear...

Sharing a couple outfits I wore to work this week for What I Wore Wednesday:

Uno: J. Crew Medallion Paisley top (love the covered buttons!)

J. Crew outlet navy chinos (old)

Madewell skimmers in grey suede

Dos: J. Crew striped top (my new favorite)

J. Crew Factory pencil skirt (old) and necklace

Madewell skimmers in nude

A couple random thoughts:

- The Madewell skimmers are my absolute favorite work shoes (although if I'm going to be on my feet all day in the clinic I have to wear my Clarks).
- Summer makes dressing for work difficult: skirts are best but require nylons, pants get hot, sleeveless blouses mean that I can't take off my white coat all day, etc.
- Ways to spice up a work outfit: colorful pencil skirt/statement necklace/fun pattern...
- There's nothing like a perfect striped shirt.

Joining The Pleated Poppy/Alison/Shanna/Lauren.

What I Wore Wednesday: gondola stripes and sweet coral

Last week was sadly devoid of outfit posts for me. My days in surgery were long and spent in scrubs (obv), and I just could not muster up the energy to put on an outfit and look semi-presentable when I got home (and is that sort of cheating anyways since I didn't actually wear the outfit that day?) 

Speaking of long surgery days, I was looking over my surgery syllabus yesterday and stumbled on this: "In all cases, student schedules will be planned so that they have no more than 28 hours of continuous responsibilities, and students must be excused after 28 hours. In rare cases, the student may choose to continue working beyond 28 hours on an active case with overriding educational value; this is allowable." To set the record straight, I have not worked 28 hours in a row (yet). But really, first of all a 28 hour consecutive hour shift seems a little extreme to me. And second of all, I don't think that I could get any educational value after working more than 16 hours, let alone 28.

And on to more interesting things, this is my new favorite top. It's the J. Crew Factory version of last year's retail Gondola stripe top. I admit that I thought it was a weird shirt/color combo when it first came out (it remotely reminded me of the circus), but when I saw it on the Factory site it kept growing on me. I also have absolutely nothing navy/orange or silk in my closet so I think it was justified (along with the fact that I found it 30% off sale price). I've been wearing it to work with grey trousers and the navy cardi, but it's definitely more fun with white skinnies.

Silk stripe top: J. Crew Factory

Cardi: Target

White skinnies: J. Crew Factory

Flats: Madewell

Necklace: J. Crew Factory

And another one. I actually wore this out (rare occasion) for one of my fellow medical student's birthdays. These are my tried and true vegan leather (pleather) boots and a fun (and wonderfully huge) scarf that I found at Target recently. Also, if you are searching for the perfect cardigan, this is it. I only wish that I could find the other colors on sale like I found this coral one (it went on sale, then sold out, and is now back full price). 

Cardi (in Sweet Coral): Madewell

Scarf: Target (recent)

Jeans: Loft outlet

Boots: old, this year's version

Linking up with Style Elixir, The Pleated Poppy, Wardrobe Wednesday, Allison, Shanna, Sarah, and Rolled up Pretty. Happy Wednesday!

What I Wore Wednesday

 

So far, this is not my favorite week. Monday was surgery clinic, which basically means 8 hours of "butts and guts" (the fond phrase describing much of general surgery) and weird lumps in weird places (which I admit can be sort of interesting). Tuesday was our research presentation day. Our research project did not go so smoothly, particularly our data collection, and I honestly thought that my project partner was going to stroke out right before we presented. And once we finished the presentation and thought we were home free, one of our administrators walked into the room and told us that our medical school had decided to give us a surprise test on research methods right then and there. Not a good surprise. I think my last 'pop quiz' was in 9th grade.

So anyways, let's talk about better things, like this Aztec sweater. I would say that in general I gravitate more towards classic preppy pieces (J. Crew) than trends, but I've fallen head over heels for geometric and tribal prints. Also, my dad actually complimented me on this sweater. I can't remember the last time (if ever) that my dad noticed anything that I was wearing so this sweater must really have something going for it.

Cardi: Urban Outfitters (color sold out), another almost identical one

Jeans: J. Crew Factory

Shoes: Madewell (I wish that I could own them in every color)

And to try to make up for our mediocre research project, I wore my favorite sweater for our presentation. If I could keep only one top in my entire closet, it would be this one. I've worn it way too many times to count since I got it last year. I layered it over a ruffly button-up top that I looooove but is way old and starting to look a little shaggy. Also, I blame my research project induced-stress for my frazzled hair (and the dark circles that Stephen commented on when he got home from work).

 Sweater: J. Crew (old), similar-ish options here and here

Shirt: J. Crew Factory (old), similar here

Pants: Loft clearance (old)

Shoes: Jessica Simpson via TJ Maxx (old)

 Apparently Katie Holmes agrees that this sweater is the best. Also I'm sure that this is the only item I own that resembles anything in Katie Holmes closet.

Via

Happy Wednesday! Is it the weekend yet?

Linking up with Style Elixir, Alison, the Pleated Poppy, Wardrobe Wednesday, and Rolled Up Pretty.

Lace + Mustard and Poppy Jeans

I don't really have any inspiring stories, funny moments or wise (maybe?) words today, just a couple of outfits that brightened my week (all photos by my lovely sister).

Numero uno: Lace + Mustard

I've always loved lace (my wedding dress was all lace), so I'm thrilled that lace is supposed to be huge for spring. I'm all over it.

This mustard skirt is one of my favorite things to wear to work since it's not-your-average neutral pencil skirt. and I love this lace shirt (a J. Crew Factory sale find last year). Originally I had a mint cardi on too (mint and mustard!) but my sister convinced me that simplicity was better (and she was right).

Necklace: Ann Taylor Loft

Top: J. Crew Factory (old), similar here and here

Skirt: J. Crew (old), similar here and here

Shoes: Madewell

Joining Marionberry's Trend of the Month: Lace!

More lace loveliness (via my Pinterest)

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Numero dos: Poppy jeans + stripes

Like the striped dress, this is another 'cheater' outfit since I'm definitely not wearing this today on my general surgery rotation (and again, you probably don't want to see my OR scrubs and stylin' goggles/booties). But I will hopefully be wearing it this weekend (no call!) 

I wasn't so sure about the colored jean trend at first, but Kate Middleton convinced me: 

Via

Love her. And now I want them in every color: I definitely came home with this pair from Target, but they're going back since it just doesn't make sense for me to have multiple pairs of colored jeans that I can't wear to the hospital (or in the OR).

Scarf: FashionABLE (love their mission)

Top: Forever 21

Colored jeans in Poppy: J. Crew Factory (on sale!)

Boots: Famous Footwear (old) but this year's version

Have a lovely Wednesday!

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, Style Elixir, Wardrobe Wednesday, Marionberry Style, Rolled Up Pretty, and Allison.