pandaphilia

Kelly Green + Stripes

2013-05-15T19:05:00.001-04:00

Pitaya kelly green satin tie top // Black lace cami (underneath) //
H&M pleated black and white striped skirt (similar) // Poshlocket gold and silver striped bracelet (c/o)

H&M gold snake coil chain necklace (steal) // H&M black bow flats //
Revlon Lip Butter in Lollipop //

Photography: Cassandra (I miss you!)

From a similarly windy hot summer day summer (8/16/12), a lightweight unique top and mini skirt (with biker shorts underneath because Marilyn'ing doesn't quite work for the caught-off-guard/elegance-challenged/short skirts) make for an easy, breezy, casual look. This is a would-be St. Patricks' Day outfit if the holiday were worth celebrating after you've hit twenty one: 1) you're still a child at heart and refuse to be pinched 2) you're Irish 3) you like to drink lots of watered down light beer. On scorching breezy days like this, I wish for a beachcruiser to ride around the park in and a pool on my rooftop.

My thighs don't lie - though they've atrophied after a year of sitting in a chair all day, working on that flat butt while hunched over Powerpoint notes, my "Marion Joneses" are still loud and proud. This mini skirt length is too short to hide them even with their A-line shape, but that's okay. Beefcake and SWOLE are the new thigh gap, haven't you heard?

Readers - what do you wear on a hot summer day?

VivaGambita Petite Jeans Review + Giveaway

2013-05-13T21:53:00.001-04:00

H&M oxblood cableknit sweater // DL 1961 Toni Cropped Jean in Switch, size 26 (c/o VivaGambita) //

Firmoo round cat eye tortoiseshell glasses (c/o) // Zac & Zoe for Payless penny loafer pumps //

From China black and crystal detachable peter pan collar //

Photography: self; tripod and remote

Today the temperature took a dip into the nippy 50s and a lightweight cableknit sweater from the colder months still left me shivering. Today's outfit was inspired by the hipster librarian - cat eye tortoise shell glasses with a strong cat eye eyeliner, comfy sweater with a little sweet, comfy jeans and "mannish" shoes. I pulled on these fit-me-like-a-glove jeans that are the perfect length for 5'3" petite me and surprisingly stretchy to leave room for my thighs and acrobatics. Getting creative here, I wore my detachable peter pan collar backwards because of the more subtle rounded shape. Popped on some pennyloafer heels and we were good to start off another week of work.

I got lots of compliments on these glasses too and my classmates kept asking if they were new prescription glasses (they're not). Firmoo contacted me again for another collaboration and let me choose 2 pairs (the other one is quite unique - the frames are totally clear) to style and review. As you remember, they offer stylish frames and prescription glasses on the cheap. Whenever I pop on some cat eyes, my whole mood becomes surlier and cattier as the corners of the glasses are tugged past my eyebrows.

VivaGambita is a brand new petite clothing store that I am excited about. From their adorable mint and white logo to their curated inventory, their chief Caroline has it covered. This pair of petite denim came cuffed but when tried rolling it down, I was surprised to see that it was the perfect tailored length. While I can dish out a few bills and get all my pants rehemmed, the fit around the rest of my leg is much harder to manage. This dark wash pair does it all and from the lack of unsightly bunching lines and muffin top, they are finally a true "ready to wear" piece for us petite ladies. We are excited to give away a pair of VivaGambita's legit denim - enter via the Rafflecopter widget at the end of this post.

Here is a better view of the fit: sits snuggly at mid waist (I have a high belly button). However, there are visible panty lines and this pair does flatten my butt. The 26 fits quite snuggly on me and I might want to order a size up if I'm keen on eating more ice cream ;) The whiskers are quite flattering.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Summer Citrus

2013-05-13T07:05:00.000-04:00

H&M orange pleated midi skirt // Forever 21 embroidered sheer peasant top (deal) //

White tshirt (underneath) // H&M black bow ballet flats ($10 steal) //

Photography: Angela

FANTA ORANGE. It's almost unthinkable that this outfit came from last summer in the August heat, at the beginning of med school (8/8/12). Back when I was still getting settled in, back when I had no idea what I was doing (still figuring that out), back when my best friend by the same name was still in town. It's a blessing that we have known each other since 1st grade and through my many, many moves we are still close and keep each other updated. She means so much to me and kept me afloat last semester as I was trying to figure out how to face sad discussions of illness and death in class after losing my Mom, how to study, whether I belonged. Thank you.

Commonwealth is a hipster sandwich bar right around the corner from my place, and they have $5 deals every Wednesday. Interesting tidbit: I ran into Destiny from America's Next Top Model Cycle 19 and got the guts to introduce myself and have a conversation. I really enjoy their Three Little Pigs sandwich (ham, pulled pork, egg) and Into the Woods (vegetarian arugula, goat cheese, mushrooms), and sauces that go with their traditional/sweet potato fries. They also have bottled Mexican Coke and Mexican Orange Fanta, matching my outfit colours (along with the Blogspot logo).

I also spent a good deal of Sunday organizing my Threadflip closet - this site is kind of like a blog sale social media hub, less crazy than Ebay (which I'm too lazy to learn how to use), and allows buyers to see the exact final price they'll pay for each item so they won't be flabbergasted at the shipping costs at checkout. If you enjoy my outfit posts and would like to get your hands on some of my pieces, take a look and shipping is free!

Readers - do you have a favourite sandwich shop?

Adore Me Tristin Set Review

2013-05-11T19:40:00.000-04:00

"Tristin" push up lingerie set in black with red lace, bra in 34B and thong panty in size S

As you'll remember back in September, I featured a pretty little magenta lingerie set named Jenna. Adore Me kindly let me choose another set to try and love, and their spring offerings featured a lot of delicate lace used as sexy accents over the traditional tshirt bra shape. The Tristin has a sultry black base colour with delicate red lace overlays. Inspired by how French women always wear matching lingerie sets underneath no matter the occasion, I am excited to start curating my collection with pretty (but functional) little things like this.

The lace does create bumps when worn under tshirts, so it is better worn with looser fabrics that don't cling too tightly. They did not carry this style in 32C so I went with a 34B and it fits pretty well. There is a little gapping between the cup and my goods but it doesn't detract from comfort or function - it does however create some visible bra lines from the front. They weren't exaggerating when they called this a push-up bra because it easily gives the appearance of 1-2 cup sizes larger due of the generous two-part padding. Adore Me lingerie has a keen eye for detail - there is even a little delicate jewel that sits at the bridge and sturdy hooks for the straps that don't burst open and leave one running to the bathroom to fix that unsettling feeling.

The front has decent coverage but the back of the panties is full-blown thong. The ruffly boyshorts that were an option with similar styled sets sold out so was forced out of my comfort zone to venture into rubber-band-around-a-head-of-lettuce land and to be honest, it is a really weird feeling. Once a boyshorts girl, always a boyshorts girl. Near the top there is a little keyhole and heart-shaped flash of red lace.

Overall, I feel the bra alone is worth the $40 price tag compared to some of Victoria's Secret's pricey push ups. The company's representatives are polite and easy to work with. Shipping is free to you and for exchanges in US and Canada and you can subscribe via your showroom (like Shoedazzle or Jewelmint) or pay as you go for the ones that really catch your eye. The website recently underwent an overhaul on design and user interface. I appreciate that are dropdown menus to search for bras and panties by size, especially since I wear a rare 32C and have a bigger butt than most petite ladies. If you're looking for a specific style, there are more options to search according to coverage on the left sidebar as well. I spy recently added bra & panty sets of cute bright summery colours and styles, so take a look!

This product was sent for review by Adore Me. These honest opinions are 100% my own.

Wear to Work: Tiered Ruffle Shell + Pleated Midi Skirt

2013-04-25T14:53:00.000-04:00

Ann Taylor LOFT teal layered shell tank (XSP) (petite deal) // H&M khaki green cardigan //

H&M grey pleated midi skirt (similar for $8) // Charming Charlie coral and gold bauble statement necklace (similar) //

H&M black bow flats // Claire's white ruffle purse //

Photography: Kristin

MONDAYS (are sometimes awesome). In between a cappella rehearsals for our performance this weekend and geeking out with heart and lung cases, this week has flown by. This Monday (4/22/13) was exceptional in how un-Monday it felt: a midterm conquered, more lectures right after, then an afternoon of clinical class, long rehearsal with choreo, phone chat with a new exciting blog sponsor, nice sit-down dinner with friends and free scrumptious veggie burgers at Northstar Cafe for Earth Day, making grown-up ice cream floats, blaring "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" as loud as we could at karaoke night. Thanks Kristin for taking photos of me nearly walking backwards into traffic as we stood in a long line of onlookers waiting for free dinner (the other two smiling faces are Emma and Kyle).

During lunch I went home to change out of my "ain't nobody got time for that" exam uniform of pocketed sweats and a comfy top to something more presentable, sticking with mostly neutrals and a pop of teal. This pretty LOFT shell has served me well in layering and hot summer days in the research lab. I like the asymmetrical tiers and how they contrast with the long flowing vertical pleats on my midi skirt - a classic yet romantic spring length. To finish off, accessorize with a berry lip and statement pink and gold chain bauble necklace. Happy spring!

Readers - do you ever enjoy your Mondays? Tell me about it!

What to Wear to Coachella: LA Grunge

2013-04-13T22:19:00.001-04:00

DIY inkblot top w/ flowy sleeves (similar) // Forever 21 red oversized beanie (deal) //
Forever 21 denim distressed shorts (splurge) //

Soyfashion white tank top (underneath) // Target suede grey ankle booties (exact, on sale) //

Photography: Kristin P (in the jump shot!)

ALL-AMERICAN. Don't I look patriotic? While my heart and mind are drifting in the direction of Indio, CA for Coachella, my body is firmly planted in the Midwest where spring, winter, and summer are all happening a few times every day. This is something I'd wear to Coachella: something DIY for a conversation point, comfy and breathable, and not baring too much skin. Of course while everyone else is decked out in a sea of floral headbands, dreamy sundresses, sunnies bigger than one's face, this LA/grunge style would stand out. Last year I opted for giant floppy hats, showing more midriff, and boho pieces for my pretend Coachella. This year I'll be going to Lollapalooza in August and living the music festival experience to the fullest.

Last weekend was blazing hot and summer-esque. Sometimes being studious and going out seem like antonyms, but I still exercise the right to dress like I have somewhere more exciting to be ;) I threw on my lightweight DIY inkblot top and kept my bum and head warm inside a potentially chilly library with my lumpy beanie and sturdy longer shorts. Ankle boots are standard for year round, no explanation needed. Currently: brewing hazelnut coffee, listening to the "Eternal Spring" playlist, ~~studying lungs~~ vacuuming.

Readers - what would you wear to Coachella?

H&M Conscious Collection 2013 Fitting Room Review

2013-04-10T14:15:00.004-04:00

Spring has finally replaced Santa in Ohio. Every year I check out the H&M Conscious Collection because of the unique print and shapes they design. All dresses were 25% off last weekend, surprise surprise at the register. With my life and laundry overflowing with clothing, I think it's about time to be much more selective about buying new pieces and making sure that they can be multitasked for work and play. Somewhere along this process I've become more concerned about fit, which leads to more head shaking and less wallet busting in the fitting room.

1) H&M Conscious Collection plant pattern white cropped pants $35, sz 4
These pants fit my legs like a glove - now that's rare. Perfectly tapered at my ankles, cinched well at the waist with a little room for dinner in there. However, I knew the water lilies and greenery were too wild for work and I wouldn't rock these on a night out either - more of a leather pants or skirt type of gal. If only they made this in solids! If you're petite/around 5'3" with athletic thighs, these are the pair for you. According to the uber tall model, they're supposed to be well above the ankles but I think they look better on shorties like me. Photo cred: H&M
- Verdict: Passed due to pattern

2) H&M Conscious Collection rainforest tapestry sheath dress $20 (paid 15), sz 2
Debated for a long time whether to get this dress - the print is impractical and the material very thin and quite sheer. However, since it's blazing 80s suddenly, I figure this could be more highbrow with a white blazer, more tough with my leather jacket, and cute to wear on its own in a park setting, the botanical gardens, Coachella. The fit is quite good on me - have to wiggle in but once I pull it down it sits well at the shoulders, chest area, hips, and gives me some booty.
- Verdict: Purchased but may return - what do you think?

3) Tweed sleeveless sheath dress $20 (paid 15), sz 4
This dress fits me to the tee - even includes a little belly pooch after lunch. It reminds me of a space cadet girl from those 80s scifi shows on the future. It comes with a weird mirror belt that is super stiff and straight across like a bar. The back has a really long exposed zipper, which I enjoy the appearance of. The material is sturdy for its price but not unbreathable, so it can be worn for summer work days. While the length is not the most appropriate for work, throwing on darker sheer tights will help create the illusion. I can think of wearing this with a blazer, opaque tights in the colder season; as is; with a cropped top so it looks like a tweed skirt .. possibilities are good.
- Verdict: Purchased: in my opinion, there is no good reason why a 20-something should wear tweed. It rarely looks flattering and matures you 50 years. However, this youthful cut and the lack of wild speckling makes it more suitable.

4) Burgundy cropped pants ~~$25~~ on sale $10, sz 6
I spied this work-friendly pair in a random rack and saw that it was on sale and the wine red colour I like. The fit from the front was great with no weird bunching and they tapered along the length of my leg. Again, this is rare for my leg shape. However, the back-of-thigh bunching was very unsightly with extra folds because it's too big for my booty (not as obvious in this photo as it was in person).
- Verdict: Passed - didn't want to try shrinking in the wash and I would avoid wearing these because of poor fit.

Readers - did you pick up anything from this year's Conscious Collection? What do you think of the pieces?

Style For Your City: Vote for Me !

2013-04-10T07:03:00.000-04:00

Hiya and happy Wednesday, friends! The Midwestern spring finally arriving this week (as opposed to gorgeous SoCal sun year round) is quite the hallelujah. Columbus has been full of twittering birds, blue skies, and 80 degree temps. Speaking of which, yesterday I entered Stylemint's #styleforyourcity contest and am excited to share a bit about the locals.

I would really appreciate if you could like Stylemint's Facebook and vote for my entry there. 2 easy clicks :) I chose one of my and your favourite outfits, showcasing the sparkly silver sequins alongside my red lip for the Buckeye colour theme. The sassiness and glitz and glam is very Short North district and the "go big or go home" attitude plays into our college town vibe.

Thanks to everyone who has already voted! There are 3 winners and you can help me win up to $150 worth of clothes from Stylemint. That would be super swell ;)

Classy-fied | Satin Tank and Cropped Jacket

2013-04-08T22:10:00.001-04:00

H&M mocha brown satin drape tank (deal) // H&M jewel beaded trim cropped jacket //

Ann Taylor Loft "Kate" straight leg black dress pants (00) (petite version) //
Thrifted Melie Bianco faux camel leather satchel bag (deal) //

DIY/Payless red sole black pumps (DIY Christian Louboutin) //

Wet n Wild berry lipstick in Wine Room // Rose pearl necklace (gift) //
Ghetto $5 Walmart classic round watch (with a second hand for taking pulse) //

Photography: self; camera and remote

Balmy rays of sunshine, robins pecking at the ground for their version of gummy worms, longer days of clear blue sky: finally spring is here to stay! Today (4/8/13) I revisited this outfit from a few summers ago, when I was so excited to apply to medical school and start dressing more professionally for lab. Look how much has happened since! I wore this under my white coat for my clinical test (switched out black flats for heels, yellow backpack for my camel satchel, and threw on a necklace - what I would have worn if I weren't running late this morning). The cool spring breeze calmed down the warm 70s weather but inside the med school buildings, our heating/cooling is never thermostatically regulated and two words: pit stains.

Just because we blog about fashion doesn't mean we can't wear an old favourite and remix via accessories. My hair is significantly less fried than before and pulling it into a pony got the wind-blown strands out of my face and made for a cleaner, more twenty-something look. The satin top billows in the wind and reminds me of mocha sails fluttering on a chocolate sea - yum! These dress pants from Loft are the most slimming pair I've found so far for my uncommon leg/body ratio - these muscular thighs make it difficult to find a pair that skims over my upper leg while staying cinched at my waist. Have been too lazy to get it tailored so I just fold the bottoms in to make it more petite-friendly, since the 00P version was not flattering on me.

Cardiology so far has been really cool - I enjoy listening to the rhythm of heart sounds, taking advantage of my musical background to imagine a picture of what is happening. Reading EKG's and the physiology also appeals to visual-tactile learner me and I'm excited to learn more (this is rare optimism when living through the daily grind). My day-to-day schedule is more organized and manageable, so I'm able to feel like a normal semi-well-adjusted being again and do things like attend conferences on literature, draw with art students, scope out spring fashions, stuff my face with yummy treats, blog. Boy am I chatty today - off to watch the Mad Men season premiere and sip some Angry Orchard.

Readers - have you worn an outfit you previous blogged before for another post?

A New Chapter

2013-04-04T07:28:00.000-04:00

A much-belated and mini rite of passage for me is updating my About Me page to describe my current life as a medical student. Below is the retired one for 2011-2012, describing my personal mission as a science major with born-with-it artistic inclinations.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

pan·da·phil·ia noun \ˈpan-də-ˈfi-lē-ə\
1 : friendly feeling toward pandas
2 : fashion philosophy that is never black and white
3 : St. Louis-based style blog of a Neuroscience student who likes to "lab in style" and experiment in the wardrobe

I am a 22-year-old Neuroscience student at a predominantly pre-med Midwest university. When not racking my brain for names of sulci and neurotransmitters, I delve deep into the world of aesthetics. I refuse to wear the collegiate uniform of sweatpants and hoodies every day, so I throw open the doors of my growing closet and pick out something fashionable to wear. People will stare as I take pictures of myself, wondering, "Who's that crazy girl always macro'ing her eye?" or "What is she all dressed up for?" I've got someplace to be, and that's far, far away from the reality of the mundane.

I am a firm believer in huge, macro photographs and picture spam. Pandaphilia's all about the obsessions of a panda fanatic who sees the world beyond the black and white. I grew up playing with robots and helicopters, shunning those ridiculous Barbie dolls and their unrealistic proportions. I grew up doing math problems, reading the entire library's section on animals, and with a serious attitude. Now, I kick back and try to enjoy the dying days of the childhood that passed me by - while reconciling a new, materialistic girly side with my lifetime pragmatism and nerdiness.

You can't slap a label on me. I am a girly tomboy, a daydreaming realist, a writer, a musician. I blog about anything and everything that sneaks into my mind, spilling it out in 010011's for the world wide web to remember forever. My very existence depends on unraveling what's stirring in my brain and making something beautiful out of the chaos.

Camera: Canon Rebel T2i
(photos prior to 6/22/11 taken with Canon Powershot SX120 IS)
Lens: Canon 50mm f/1.8 USM lens
Photos of me are usually by my boyfriend (JJ); other pictures are usually by me.
Photo editing by me: Lightroom 3 and Photoshop CS5

Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
Weight: 110 lbs (50 kg)
Size: XS-S
Shoe size: US 4-5 (foot length 215 mm)

List of blog awards

Contact me at angie [at] pandaphilia [dot] com

Strawberry Banana | Spring Transition Work Outfit

2013-04-01T22:59:00.001-04:00

H&M light pink scallop edge blouse // Thrifted Escada bright yellow pencil skirt (steal) //
Pitaya patent yellow skinny belt (steal) // H&M opaque black tights //
Target Merona faux calfhair scallop edge leopard print ballet flats (steal) //

Photography: self, tripod and remote

'Ello there! Welcome to my new and improved blog design, clean and minimalistic. Thanks to JJ for helping me work out all the kinks in this old tangle of code and sharing his artistic eye. Last week/Spring Break was a fantastic blur of food, reading, snoozing. Key highlights include reinventing Lunchables with gouda cheese, crackers, and deli slice turkey, watching The Croods and Hercules, dusting off my interior design/DIY renovation skills, observing strange animal behavior at the zoo, exploring the botanical gardens, discovering a vegetarian reuben that features savory wheat-meat (cray, I know) all with JJ. What I would give for another week to spend with my best friends in Arizona and Kentucky and my St. Louis babies.

This was my work outfit for today (4/1), featuring a silky light pink blouse with a scallop edge that I picked up on sale this weekend. Something needs to be done about the way it poofs unruly when tucked in, but besides that the girly touch makes this top very special. My much beloved bright yellow pencil skirt is also too big, so soon I will be searching for a tailor to fix up these two pieces. A quick fix to make the skirt more playful was to tie a yellow skinny belt to cinch it like a paperbag waist style.

Spring is just around the corner (I hope), and here's to rekindling old passions. A fresh blog face has made me more excited to post and share tidbits from my daily life again, especially because of the busy-ness. As Ferris Bueller says, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

P.S. Did any of you prank or get pranked by clever April Fools tricks? I put up a scary zombie-fied version of myself as a Facebook profile pic :)

Spotty Reception

2013-03-28T13:43:00.001-04:00

H&M cropped mustard yellow sweater // H&M chambray button down (underneath) //

H&M black and white dotted pants // Target hot pink loafer flats w/ tassels //

Totes pink and yellow polka dot umbrella //

Photography: JJ

Continuing my "blog-the-zillion-blue-folders-on-my-desktop" project, here is a fun outfit from fall fitting for a rainy mood like today's (10/12/12). This is my best antidote for the gloomy greys and soggy hair-frizzing atmosphere: wear the brightest colours and quirkiest prints in my wardrobe and a 100-watt smile. Start with my Dalmatian pants and polka dot umbrella, building the rest according to the colour scheme of hot pink and yellow.

What do rainy days make you crave? I like lying in bed listening to the pitter-patter against tin rain gutters, drifting between daydreaming and sleep. A delicious perfect cup of coffee brings a smile to my lips and I'll put on some indie playlist that I don't know the songs to and read until I'm tired of turning pages. Or I'll run around outside trying my luck in a storm. If the pros to being fun-sized include never being the tallest thing around to be struck by lightning and not having to worry about hitting your head on overlying branches or doorframes, I'll take it.

Cherry Danish | Solvang, CA

2013-03-27T19:13:00.003-04:00

Black lace cardigan // Red tshirt (underneath) // H&M faux leather biker jacket //
H&M forest green skinny pants // Forever 21 red slouchy beanie // Xhilaration black and white oxford flats //

JJ is wearing a Nerdy Domokun hat :D

Photography: JJ's Dad, me

Fast forward through 3 months of living inside Powerpoints and the library and we arrive at a snowy, well-deserved, super laidback Spring Break. So far I've hiked 7 miles on a waterfall crawl in the great outdoors, eaten my weight in comfort food, and done some digging through my memory cards to shake out these ole blogging legs. Thank you for your supportive comments on my last post, saying hi on social media, and sticking with me for all these years.

Solvang is a quaint little Danish town in the mountains near Santa Barbara (12/30/12). JJ and his family and I frolicked around the village admiring the windmills, munching pastries and sausages, trying on clogs. Though it might feel odd to be seeing photos of real pretzels adorning Christmas trees in late March, the persistence of current coat-weather makes it quite fitting. Note to curator of weird American traditions: please fire The Groundhog.

The rest of this week will be spent drinking fancy coffee and reading for pleasure, exploring the zoo and botanical gardens, and writing a letter-to-self disaster preparedness plan to avoid repeating the same "med school + winter ate my blog" excuse next year. Step 1: hunt down a floor length puffy coat to act as full-body shield against the elements and to hide presentable outfits underneath. Step 2: clone self to take outfit pictures or convince the world that library-cubicles-are-the-next-thing-in-fashion. Step 3: laugh at the last photo and how often my priceless weirdo moments are captured on film.

The Year Without Mom

2013-02-11T19:11:00.000-05:00

This is the story of how studying neurology in med school ate my blog/life for a month. Sounds like an ironic continuation of the past four years, right? Post-midterm and weeks of subzero temps, I am back and ready to toss my daily uniform of puffy coat and shapeless clothing (I'm looking at you, scrubs jumpsuit). With the absence of wanting to dress up and take photos or having anywhere to go but the library, my blogger-induced self confidence has also shriveled quite a bit.

Catching you up to speed on what the heck happened in January:

[ 1 ] I went on a ski trip! It was my first time skiing ever and I even gave snowboarding a wobbly try. Needless to say my butt and knees have the bruises and bragging rights to tell the tale.
[ 2 ] Medschool: I shadowed in labor and deliver and saw a C-section surgery and natural birth. I appreciate mothers on a whole different level now. My brain feels meta about learning everything about all its own wrinkles, clusters, and highways.
[ 3 ] Food food food food food: how 'bout that Cinnamon Bun Cheesecake with a perfectly smooth caramel macchiato? Or tub-fuls of Columbus grown Jeni's gourmet ice cream? My favourite has to be sweet potato & toasted marshmallows, the epitome of holiday joy to taste buds. Featured above is a trio of riesling white pear sorbet, blackcurrant yogurt, and lavendar.

Finally, today is the anniversary of my Mom's passing. This year has stretched on for eons and a lot of it still feels like a distant nightmare, too far from reality to keep it from slipping like sand between my fingers. I have done a lot of crying, a lot of pitying, a lot of writing, but not a whole lot of sharing.

Things are not the same when I go home because there is a huge void where her joy and radiance filled our family. But her strength and spirit follow me everywhere, but it took me forever to realize it and believe it. After a year of feeling like I was leaving her behind - all of us going through a birthday without her, graduating, traveling around the world having new experiences, the day of her birthday, a painful holiday season, and now February 11th - after 365 long days I have started to let go of the heartache of her earthly memory and heal through feeling closer to her spirit. Most importantly, finally I stopped pitying myself.

It is ironic because the first couple of weeks after she passed, I felt the most strong and clear-minded, embodying my Mom's spirit and energy. I continued to study and move forward, helping others try to understand their struggles. Then the wave of other feelings inundated the brief optimism and I was sad, angry, apathetic, depressed, these words not even encapsulating what kinds of hurt spun around on a carousel and broke me down. I chose to barrel on forward and continue the daily grind - studying, working, blogging and running away from the ugly reality, only to crack when under inopportune stressful times. Med school started and it is not easy for anyone, and even more challenging with a heavy burden on my heart and not knowing how to broach the topic with the people around me. I was mad when friends didn't know how to react and help me grieve, my standards for my classmates' behavior skyrocketed, I was indignant at every person who ever joked about cancer or expressed indifference or hatred for their parents. Every word was a lance, each silent second was a stab.

In my letter to med schools across the country, I said my reasons for wanting to become a doctor stemmed from wanting to heal my mother. While everyone was in on the fact that I could not save her, I felt robbed of the chance to try. With her gone from this life, a lot of that motivation and meaning sapped away and it was easy to lose sight of why I am really here for the past five months. I know what my Mom wants out of her caretakers. I know that I did not need a didactic lecturing from the team who was trying to explain why it was time to let go. I needed someone in a white coat or scrubs to give me a deep, big hug and show some emotion. I needed them to stop talking about her death in front of her as if she could not hear them while lying comatose.

This is why I'm here. Because in every patient I see a hint of my Mom. Because I could not suppress the tears when Christmas caroling at the cancer outpatient center and saw her in each of their faces. Because I refuse to become jaded and give up my empathy to protect myself from feeling their pain. After a year of asking how God can let good people suffer, I turned around and faced Him. We are not given challenges in life that are too big to be overcome, and we are tested until we are strong and worthy. My Mom is smiling over all of us and we are given the challenge to be as amazing and kind as her.

It still sucks, and it still hurts and this pain doesn't simply evaporate with patience and sunshine. I miss her beyond what words and tears can express; there will be events in the future where I wish she could be there. I cry not because I want this to be undone, because asking her to live one more day in that broken cancer-ridden body would be cruel, the opposite of love.

A reader shared this with me a year ago, and it is a very telling piece by Mary Elizabeth Frye. She is in the sunset above the clouds at Haleakala, she is in the flowers that triumph over the ground. She is in the snow, the stars, and she has left but a white pearly shell by the salty waves that lap up to reclaim her.

This piece by Louise Gluck my poetry prof shared. It is beautiful and captures my idea of the transition into a different life. Thank you Sharon for helping me brave through these inexpressible moments. And I thank every one of you for offering me a hug, staying up late to cry with me, broaching the subject when I didn't know how to, listening even when you didn't know how to respond. Dad, Eric, and Lucky - you are strong men and even stronger family. In no way could I have gotten through this year alone, not without you, my family, and in a big way, not without Mom.

At the end of my suffering

there was a door.

Hear me out: that which you call death

I remember.

Overhead, noises, branches of the pine shifting.

Then nothing. The weak sun

flickered over the dry surface.

It is terrible to survive

as consciousness

buried in the dark earth.

Then it was over: that which you fear, being

a soul and unable

to speak, ending abruptly, the stiff earth

bending a little. And what I took to be

birds darting in low shrubs.

You who do not remember

passage from the other world

I tell you I could speak again: whatever

returns from oblivion returns

to find a voice:

from the center of my life came

a great fountain, deep blue

shadows on azure seawater.

Hollywood, CA

2013-01-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

H&M faux leather biker jacket // H&M chambray shirt // H&M silver metallic sweater //

Faded Glory red tee (underneath) // H&M olive A-line flare skirt // H&M faux leather leggings //

Forever 21 grey knee high socks // Xhilaration black and white oxfords //

Photography: JJ & me

Last weekend JJ and his family and I explored Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara on a spontaneous end-of-year trip (I survived on 1.25 outfits: proud). First stop: Hollywood, home of a bajillion people staring at the ground and snapping photos (aliens must be so amused at the human race). Bundling up in as many layers as possible, with assorted textures and fabrics, we meandered around streets, shops, and eateries like proper tourists. Some of my favourite moments: eating piping hot samosas at Bollywood Cafe, pleased to find the longgg boardwalk in Santa Barbara to be consistent with Psych, wandering around the little Dutch town in the mountains.

I made it home via pimped-out-with-wifi train in time for watching the crystal ball make its flamboyant descent down the pole on TV with my family while sipping champagne. Yesterday was mall day, catching some deals after all the holiday-crazed shoppers are still resting from the battle of 2012 ($1.80 for a big string of white Christmas lights, hollaaa). Today's adventure will be around downtown San Diego with a med school classmate and dinner at Fish Market for my brother's birthday. I hope your new year has kicked off ambitiously and adventurously!

2012 in Review | 2013 Resolutions

2013-01-01T22:36:00.001-05:00

Looking back on 2012, it is hard to ignore the rough and painful moments this year brought. My eyes still well up every time I think of my Mom, and like riding a bike, the only thing I can do to keep my balance is to keep moving forward. But there were a lot of wonderful moments too, like adventuring around the world and country (one word: Hawaii), meeting Bill Nye the Science Guy, picking up racquetball/kickboxing/zumba, graduating college and starting my journey to M.D., being featured in a magazine, scooping out free time to enjoy little things like macarons, living through Leap Day/London Olympics/Hurricane Sandy/Obama re-elected/Mayan anti-climatic apocalypse, finally opening up my blog shop, and making lots of statements while getting dressed.

There are a zillion vacation photos waiting to see the light of the interwebs, so my first blog resolution would be to have fun while revisiting those moments and sharing them with you!

I have high hopes for 2013. There are a lot of things out of our control in this universe, but how we react to each day is entirely up to our own volition. Remember to wear your rose-tinted glasses every once in a while and do stupid things that make you laugh until your sides hurt. Surround yourself with people whose company you enjoy unconditionally. Learn to say "whatever" to things - just because you do not worry does not mean you do not care. Each year gifts us a necklace of 365 pearls, and I plan on cherishing every single one.

Resolution theme: Live in a foreign country called "Out-of-my-Comfort-Zone."

Be inspired every single day.
Lose the self-imposed "can't" mentality. Ball it up, toss it in a recycling bin. Let spontaneity take its place.
Explore my city. Even if it's raining, snowing, Sunday, before a test. I will always be studying or working, so take the scenic route as much as possible!
Meet new people and listen to their stories. Revisit old friends and build bridges.
Work on becoming a better person than I was the day before. This involves self-discipline in many aspects and frequent introspection. When in doubt, share more and be kind.
Remember to give my artistic side some proper lovin': pastel, read, blog, make music ... avidly. Create, create, create.

Did I carry through with last year's resolutions? For a fun comparison, see last year's review in pictures post. Thank you wonderful friends and readers for sharing your time and thoughts since the beginning. To many more adventures and stories!

Readers - what was your favourite moment of 2012 and did you many any New Years Resolutions?

From Glam to Gym | Neon + Sheer Maxi

2012-12-29T13:09:00.002-05:00

Glam:

H&M neon cropped racerback tee // Pitaya sheer black pleated maxi // Forever 21 biker shorts (underneath) //

Black stone and gold cobra necklace (c/o CLAWS Jewelry) // Fioni by Payless strappy cage heels //

Island Girl neon yellow nail polish in Aloha Girl //
BCBGeneration metallic foldover clutch (from StylishPetite)

Gym:

H&M neon cropped racerback tee // Forever 21 biker shorts (underneath) //

Nike Free Run neon running shoes //

Photography: Cassandra Morecroft King

Ello, ello! Sipping coffee and writing to you from aboard the train from San Diego to LA to hang out with Jeffrey and his fam over the weekend. I've picked a seat facing the back of the train unfortunately, so it's semi-trippy to be zipping backwards in a stationary seat for a few hours ... like traveling in some kind of cinematic space-time machine. Okay, so marathoning Big Bang Theory has rubbed off on my imagination - make a show about glorified geeks and I'm hooked (my people!). Trying to edit while your screen is doing The Wobble is harder than you think. I hope you all have wonderful New Year's Eves whether curled up at home to watch the glass ball drop or out all night living up the final glam moments of 2012.

This was a really old set from August (8/14) towards the beginning of med school, but I figure the SoCal temperate winter justifies a better-late-than-never post about how to multi-task your outfits for your busy days. In my case, I had morning class and wanted to hit the gym after without having to go home to change. Start off with your basic biker shorts and racerback tee and layer on a sheer maxi and heels to glam it up. The only thing to throw into a drawstring is sneakers, socks, sports bra. Thanks Cassandra for playing photographer!

P.S. I know this is dinosaur-age news, by now, but check out my new profile on Instagram! The layout is so pretty in design - I'm impressed and the top banner is dynamic, changing every few seconds to feature another one of your pictures. If you use IG, you have one automatically too.

Readers - what are your most memorable moments of 2012?

Let's Have a Kiki | Merry Christmas

2012-12-25T22:16:00.000-05:00

H&M silver sequin and tulle dress // Aldo nude pumps // Silver beaded sequin clutch from China (gift) //

Wet n Wild lipstick in Wine Room //

Photography: self; tripod and remote

LOCK THE DOORS TIGHT. This dress would be the epitome of a tinsel-meets-ballerina holiday outfit. I wore this sparkly little number to our post-finals party with my pink blazer and burgundy tights, leopard fur coat reserved for the nightcrawling hours. Today it felt right to throw it on for a cloudy and dreary San Diego Christmas to pizazz some festivity back into the atmosphere. With nude pumps, a high pony, and classic wine red lips, everything feels more classy and sassy. But really, let's have a kiki.

The fire in the sequins comes alive with ambient lighting and unfortunately doesn't photograph well. Therefore my cheesy dancing as a human disco ball is reserved for in-person enjoyment. If anyone has any tips on photographing sparkles and sequins, please share your knowledge! I amused myself for a whole 3 minutes reflecting the rainbow with my torso standing in front our tree. I hope your holiday has been wonderful and close to the loved ones around you. Gift-wise, my brother went all out this year and got me the new apple EarPods which fit wonderfully inside my big earholes and produce some quality beats. Santa also left me lime green Play-doh which this 90s kid is freaking ecstatic about. Already I've made dumplings, a lopsided heart, and a bracelet with it while taking breaks to sniff the memorable scent.

Since starting break I've finished The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, a great analytical-but-engaging read to changing your bad habits into productive ones ... and howled with laughter with every page of Me Talk Pretty Some Day by David Sedaris. That I believe completes my goal of 10 books in 2012, surprisingly half of them read during med school. Cheers to two more weeks of exorbitant movie-watching and not getting trampled during after-Christmas sale shopping.

Readers - what did you wear this year for Christmas/holiday celebrations?

Practical Holiday Wishlist

2012-12-24T09:26:00.000-05:00

Happy Christmas Eve, lovely people! Glad to report that the world is very much in one piece (Mayans just never updated their Google Calendars, that's all, geez) and I successfully conquered my muscle/bone block! This holiday season, I am surprisingly content with my materialistic but for shifts and giggles, I made a collage of practical gifts I would especially appreciate and use almost daily. Here's to last minute inspiration for the fashion blogger on your list:

1) Carry-all wristlet/clutch. After losing important plastic cards on multiple occasions from lack of pockets or transferring from backpack to purse to coat pocket, it's time to invest in something pretty and functional to fit my phone, ID's, a few dolla bills, keys. Tiffany's mint green doesn't hurt to look at, wrapped around my wrist.
2) Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue. It's the only perfume I have ever enjoyed and wouldn't mind smelling like refreshing grapefruit yumminess every time I walked by (and especially after anatomy lab). Having trouble justifying the price tag for a bottle.
3) Ankle rainboots with bow detail. My shoes smell putrid after pounding through the rain, which transfers to my socks/tights and my feet. These short versions would keep my feet dry and work with any outfit on a rainy day (frequent in Ohio). My Hello Kitty ones were a little silly-juvenile and ripped up after a few years so I tossed them last spring.
4) Parka. Outerwear is a good investment, since in colder climates like where I live and walk outside for 30+ minutes every day, layering is a must and your jacket makes the statement. Parkas go with everything and they're so casual cool. Shearling lining inside and furry hoods earn functionality bonus points.
5) Chunky circle scarf. Saw a great option at H&M for $15 a few weeks ago - this is actually the only thing on my list for keeping everything sealed and warm when I step out into the great outdoors. It beats having to tuck in the ends of my really big scarf or having to deal with unruly scarf fringe.
6) Butter nail polish. Oh Butter London, you amazing amazing thing. First time I swatched you, my nails cried with tears of joy. No butterknife needed, but it sure melts right on with smooth heavenly-ness just as the name promises. Shades chosen for the holidays and professional work because my digits have been so sad-looking, cropped, and naked for the past four months.
7) Canon 50 mm f/1.4 prime lens. Okay I haven't even figured out all the wonders of my SLR or 1.8 prime lens yet, so there's no reason why I should be coveting a $300 lens but the bokeh is soooo smooth! Someday when I deserve the upgrade ..

I considered the ever-hip Skullcandy Aviators in steampunk amber but realized it would get into fights with my cartilage piercing after 5 minutes. Of course after ogling tons of cute dresses and skyscraper heels, I can be honest with myself that they're not my go-to's when I'm running off to class in the below-freezing winter or dressing up for work. The most precious things that money cannot buy are more time with my loved ones and zen "me" time away from studies. Right now medschoollife revolves around the bare necessities so treating myself to a nicer conditioner or fancy coffee is more worthwhile than hunting down the pricey most-coveted pieces of the season. As my friends frequently hear me say ... "Ain't nobody got time for that!"

Collage by me. Photo credit: perfumelover.co.uk, melshoes.com, amazon.com, butterlondon.com, tiffany.com, hm.com/us, coolspotters.com, shopbop.com, shop.nordstrom.com, svpply.com

Readers - do you wish for more practical or flashy gifts during the holiday season?

Confession: I'm Jealous of {insert blog name here}

2012-12-15T13:14:00.001-05:00

All right, fess up. We all get a little envious of our fellow bloggers and even IRL friends who blog. After reading this IFB article, I'm inspired to sit down and have a face-to-face interview with the ugly green monster.

What gets under my skin (even though it shouldn't) ... and how to fight that feeling:

→ It seems like they have an entire outfit of new pieces every single post.
Not sure if they have a lot of spare change lying around in their house-sized piggy bank, but it's all sparkly new. I almost feel weird wearing my own clothes from high school and incorporating it into outfits without everything being (c/o). It seems like I find every raved item on the blogosphere "meh" until I've seen it 70 times and then some switch in my brain turns on and suddenly I want it too. No matter how ugly or man-repelling.
← Now that I reflect on that, being sponsored up to your eyeballs is nice but at the same time it's easy to lose your sense of self. I'm glad that I still wear my old things and occasionally drop in a new piece.

→ You just started blogging 3 months ago. How do you have 1000 followers and 100k lookbook fans already!?
Ah, the annoying little Google Friend Connect widget. We all look to you for affirmation that we're doing the right thing, that people across the www are listening to us talking to ourselves, that we're likable and popular. So especially when a brand new blogger has a lot of personality and flare, we get pangs of hurt-pride pain and jealousy. Either that or they look like every other popular fashion blogger. Then comes the wave of thoughts of, "am I too short? not skinny enough? is there something weird about my face?" Look at what we're doing to ourselves, people. Some bloggers do have that signature spark - whether it's purple hair, perfectly curated blonde hair, or "that pose." That's what gives them success. That's what makes you pause as you're scrolling through your subscriptions. Most of all you can feel their passion oozing through your screen.
← Remember that feeling way back when you first started, of wanting to blog or comment every single second and put yourself out there because it's fun? When other bloggers who were more famous made you wide-eyed with wonder and inspiration instead of boiling with jealousy? The minute blogging becomes work instead of play (which is the way it feels for many of us, I'm sure) it no longer becomes fun and it becomes another task and we procrastinate and enter this spirally self-inflicted downfall. Pick yourself back up, and chug out a new outfit post, something you would actually wear!

→ I'm not tall, skinny, blonde, a redhead, olive-complexioned, have long perfect hair ... like those popular bloggers.
When I start marking down the physical qualities of bloggers I am envious of, it becomes a list of every known combination to man! This tells me that I choosing to see only the beauty and strengths when I look at others and only defects and insecurities when I look at myself. There is no other me on this planet, and there is no other you, so if we try to stop being everyone else but us we might unveil that signature spark.
← Be comfortable in your own skin, even if it changes. I realize that when I just started out I had reddish/brown hair and circle lenses and ultra-cute panda obsessions, but now my outfits and hair are tailored to more work-appropriate shades and lengths. Which makes me a little ho-hum boring. No one wants to aspire to look like what they already look like, eh? Part of me wonders if I lost my signature spark. I pride myself on being a style chameleon and versatile dresser (skirt as top, sweater as dress, skirt plus top equals dress) and that is one thing that never changed. That and I'm one of the blab-at-you-for-paragraphs style bloggers. There we go: wardrobe mixer and storyteller is my new brand. Take some time and figure out who you've become and how to rebrand that.

→ They're always blowing up your newsfeed with a new post every day ... and you haven't published in 5 days.
I find myself being more jealous when I'm more busy, having time to look at everyone else's new posts and not having the hour to pump one out. I always sigh and wish that I had so much time to blog, but honestly who is the one who decides to catch up on Glee instead of pounding out some photos and html? Me. Yes, it feels like med school is eating up all my time normally reserved for blogging, exploring eateries, hanging out for non-studying purposes, shopping. Then I think to PrettyShinySparkly and how darn inspiring she is, blogging all the way through med school. No pangs of envy there, pure awe.
← If you're on Facebook right now, you could be editing photos or writing your content. Make it a small inspiration photo post and cite your sources! Or compile your recent instagrams into a 1-minute collage. Voila, instant eye-catching content.

→ A $4000 designer bag? Really?
I understand that this is a save-for-life goal for a lot of ladies, but the minute someone's shoulders are decked with something that expensive, I look at my student budget and feel less able to relate to her/his personal style.
← If you like the rest of her/his style, ignore the expensive label and appreciate the outfit as a whole. Think of it as "just another quilted black purse." If you really can't relate anymore, you don't have to keep visiting!

This post killed two birds with one stone - some cathartic self-reflection and pumping out content when I thought it was going to be another week before I "had time to blog." I'd love to hear your thoughts about this! Meanwhile there are three muscle/bone block finals standing between me and winter break. Happy Holidays!

Photo credit: nickjaina.com

Readers, are you jealous/envious of your fellow bloggers sometimes?

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

2012-12-07T23:48:00.000-05:00

H&M white pearl studded beret // Forever 21 lace dress // Ralph Lauren cable knit sweater (gift)

H&M 200 denier black tights // Mossimo black suede ankle boots //
Lancome red lipstick in Rouge Baroque //

Photography: self, tripod and remote

Today our a cappella group had a performance for some influential individuals of the med center, so I put together this ensemble with my white coat and black pumps. I layered my ivory cable knit sweater underneath to keep warm on the walk to campus - my white coat only shows a peep of the dress so as far as tops and sleeves go, you can be as wild as you want. After a pasta lunch though, this began to feel a little more frumpy and tight. To cozy up with some coffee at home, this pearl-studded white beret and red lips are perfect for a winter wonderland feel and prancing around in the snow. Au contraire, the weather outside was indeed frightful, drizzling in this relatively tepid rain nonstop. That didn't stop us from having a spontaneous girls' night at Cheesecake Factory after reading about how their system can teach us how to standardize and improve health care in surgeon/storyteller extraordinaire Atul Gawande's New Yorker article. Food for thought leads to thinking about food! By the way, their Fresh Banana cheesecake is heavenly - light, frothy, a perfect dessert.

It takes years to develop a sense of personal style, and that's still an ever-changing one. Being a style blogger makes that hard with trends and staying relevant, wandering around boutiques and malls for the sake of doing your research, sponsored pieces to incorporate. After brewing many sartorial concoctions, it seems like my ~~life~~ outfit is not complete without a pancake atop my head (one of 2 H&M new additions to my collection). Back to my true francophile roots - beret, flared dresses, streamlined black bottoms all the way down to my hallex (fancy Latin word for big toe). This forecast for this weekend is plenty of studying, since finals for the muscle & bone block are coming up and it's time to get down to business. Looking forward to a holiday potluck dinner tomorrow with good eats and jingling along with Christmas tunes. Best of luck on your exams/work and break is almost here!

O Christmas Tree | Meetup with SydneysFashion

2012-12-04T08:01:00.000-05:00

BB Dakota chevron tweed cape (c/o Jupe Boutique) // H&M faux leather pants //

Mossimo black suede ankle booties //

Photography: JJ, taken on Sydney's Nikon camera

LES PETITES MEET. One of the funnest things about blogging is meeting your friends in real life. After all morning in anatomy lab, I was excited to jump out of scrubs and spend my Saturday afternoon catching up with Sydney again. It was nice to slow down and do a little shopping, latte-sipping, and holiday-spirit enjoying at the mall amongst hoards of shoppers on a mission.

Thanks so much JJ for snapping these! Sydney was kind to send me photos from her camera and I edited a few different ones. You can read more about our fun and see other pics on Sydney's post. The bokeh made all the holiday lights twinkle and turn into big sparkly dots. The GIANT Christmas tree makes us petite gals look even more minuscule, doesn't it? :D

JJ and I had many adventures out on the town as well. We watched Wreck it Ralph and played the online versions of the games too - Disney never fails to disappoint, chatted Neuroscience at the cozy and hip Northstar Cafe on High Street (their food is so fresh and delicious and healthy!), enjoyed macarons and eclairs with eggnog latte at Pistacia Vera.

[CLOSED] Firmoo Glasses Giveaway (25 winners!)

2012-12-02T19:28:00.000-05:00

If you're like me and need to wear prescription glasses beyond hipster fashion frames but don't like spending the big bucks on a designer pair, Firmoo might be your new coffee break browse. Say goodbye to your only-wear-at-home-so-embarrassing metal framed Harry Potters, because this online glasses store offers all new customers their first pair of glasses for free, and you only pay shipping (around $7 in US, other rates here). Since I have a higher prescription, these 1.50 refractive index lenses that come by default may end up being hilariously thick, so a more flattering upgrade would cost $35.95 for super thin 1.60 index or $62.95 for ultra thin 1.67 index. FYI, the 1.50 index free ones only go up to prescriptions +/- 2.00. Not to worry, because Firmoo has kindly sponsored $500 worth of vouchers to their site, and we're breaking it down to 25 winners for $20 each. 25 winners!? That's like a giveaway dream come true :)

I have been admiring oversized tortoiseshell frames lately and like how the brown colour brightens up one's complexion more than square black frames. Firmoo's site is very informative for each pair of glasses, including a picture uploader so you can see how it will look on your face, information on how to measure the space between your eyes for style, clear big detailed photos from every angle, customer/blogger review photos. I will be ordering the pair in the giveaway photo above and am excited to share my thoughts.

THE GIVEAWAY: Requirements are listed inside the widget below - you must complete ALL of the requirements on the first page of the widget to be entered (these are mandatory). The widget may take a few seconds to load; you need to have Javascript enabled. For an optional +3 entries, you can post this picture to your sidebar (blogs made for giveaways will be disqualified)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is international. Please ask parental permission if under 16. Giveaway ends at 12/17/2012 at 12:01 EST. Winners will be drawn and contacted by email. The gift certificates will expire on 12/25/2012 and cannot be used towards shipping costs.

All gift vouchers provided by Firmoo.com. I am not otherwise affiliated with the company. Photo credit: Firmoo.com

Sweet Patisserie | Pistacia Vera

2012-11-29T23:44:00.001-05:00

H&M mint green skater dress (buy) // Goodwill thrifted gold tip white belt //

Forever 21 black wool beret with stud detail // Predictions for Payless white low heel pump //

F21 gold spike bracelet and pearl bracelets // Revlon Lip Butter in Lollipop //
Black faux leather purse (gift) //

Photography: Cassandra Morecroft King

Catching my breath after hours inside anatomy lab to bring you an outfit inspired by my favourite things: pastel mint green & kitschy French things (10/21). This beret my Mom gifted me two Christmases ago as part of a French-inspired outfit, my college graduation dress in my favourite shade mint green, white and gold accents. Committing "me time" is important to enjoy every day even if it's hectic, feel excited about discovery like watching my first DIY crystals grow in elementary school, be thankful for my supportive friends for propelling me forward after setbacks. The best revenge for the baseball cannons pelting you with lemons is to get up, add sugar to the wounds, and live a really good life. There will always be someone who you wish you could trade with because of their success, intellect, birthright, material wealth. But you will get to where you need to be by not forgetting who you already are.

I am grateful for spontaneous giggling fits about wishing our arms were 6 feet longer to avoid smelling eau de formaldehyde, childhood best friends still being here for each other even as we traverse into the daunting new chapters of our lives, JJ coming to visit this weekend and share more adventures, catching up with an inspirational old friend with hovering mustaches and laughter, late night reliving the 90s kid experience of Power Rangers/Ultraman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shenanigans with the best faux-bro I could hope for (conspiracy theory blood relation pending). Cassandra's selflessness and good company, taking the time to drive up and put up with me and my fanciful ideas that usually involve pointing a camera in front of every half-decent tree, house, fire hydrant, younameit. I had been wanting to check out a French pastry shop in German Village called Pistacia Vera to try out their macaron selection, and boy were they tasty! My favourite flavour was their namesake pistachio, sweet but savory. My goal by the end of this first year of med school is to make my rounds in the coffeeshops around town, portals to my happy place.

Laughter, singing, writing are powerful healers.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas

2012-11-20T21:01:00.000-05:00

Some holiday inspo from H&M. Digging the mint and forest green, cranberry reds and oxbloods, and clean winter whites for this year's holiday palette. Feathery and fuzzy textures, peter pan collars, and sequins bring glam to traditional cable knit textures - it's all in the details. I'm not sure why this model looks so angry though. Have a happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful to spend it in warm and sunny San Diego this year with my family. Safe travels and relax/eat liberally!

Photo credit: H&M