Links for Lunch || "I love days when my only problem is Tea or Coffee"

Christmas Tree Decoration from the Mormon Temple Visitor Center in Kensington, MD

Sorry I've been on a mini break from school, and apparently that meant from blogging as well. I hope everything is enjoying their time off. Here are a few links I've found in the last few weeks that I really liked.

I mean who wouldn't want a hot chocolate smoothie for breakfast?? Speaking of cooking, I found this link to be inspirational, as I've yet to master a few of these recipes. I do have a few years before this will no longer be acceptable, but at least I have medical school to blame for that!

As some of you are aware, I'm spending my first year of medical school in England, and that means that most days are rainy days. So no vitamin D for me :( This past term we learned the importance of a whole bunch of different vitamins, including vitamin D. This article describes another important job that vitamin D has in our health.

And finally, I'm excited by China's change in policy. It's still not okay for the government to control how many children someone can have... to be honest I find that completely absurd... but at least this means that some girl babies will survive. And we need a little more girl power over there!

Happy holidays everyone!

Inspiration

This past term, one of my professors had a thing for scarves, while another one had a thing for blazers. One of the outfits she put together really struck with me, and I'd like to wear something like it in the future. Here are some of the pieces I've found while using her outfit as an inspiration.

I would actually use black heels like the one in the image for the skirt, and the pink blazer really makes for a unique ensemble. Have you found any inspirational pieces? What do you think of these items?

A few of my favorite things

This has probably become my favorite outfit this term! The oversized sweater is super comfy for long hours of studying, and you can't tell I'm wearing leggings which I promised myself I wouldn't wear in public. But if you can't tell they're leggings while I'm studying, then it's a perfectly presentable outfit, right? The scarf also helps bring in the colors between the forest green in the sweater and the navy blue of my coat. And finally the boots give the whole outfit a bit of an edge. I feel so put together in this and yet it's one of the most comfortable outfit I've put together so far!

So excited to see my family and friends and be back in the ol' U. S. of A this week! Hopefully I'll get through all my lay overs without trouble.  See you guys on the other side of the pond!

Everyday Wear

Cowlick Sweater (old) || Skirt - Old Navy (similar)|| Black Tights || Boots - TK Maxx

Here is one of the outfits I wear the class on an every day basis. I found that wearing jeans and a t-shirt doesn't really fit with the whole medical student (at least for me). That and the fact that there are so many cute pieces to put on, that it's a shame to be wearing jeans on a daily basis. Wearing scrubs and uniforms in the past year has really made me crave better quality items. I particularly enjoy unique pieces, things that are eye catching, but I understand that working in the medical field means I have to be a little more refined, so I'm trying to find the right balance between the two.

I am finally done with my first term of medical school, which means I'm 1/8th of a doctor! I'm unbelievably happy with how I performed, almost shocked to be honest because I really thought the Biochemistry final was one of the toughest exams I've taken so far.... and surprisingly, it's one of the best of my final scores!

For now I'm glad to be on vacation, although I'm incredibly sad that some of my classmates have gone home while I'm here for a few more days. I'll be able to sight-see for a few days, but once I'm home I'll definitely miss this place over the next month. I do have to say, I can't wait to go shopping for clothes again :)

Links for Lunch || Finals Week

Canals in Amsterdam 

 

 This week was such a rollercoaster, but I'm finally done with final exams. Awaiting on one final grade before I can celebrate, so for now, I'll make it up to you and provide you with some cool links!

Interesting article about HIV then and now

This makes me want to become a pediatrician, he seems to love his job and the kids. Truly inspiring!

I have a giant sauce pan, and the eggs always go everywhere. This neat little trick solves the problem of frying eggs!

I think these shoes would be super warm and comfy for cold British days.

Finally, this video shows the beauty of mixing nature, art, and science.

Floral Dress Up

Dress: Primark || Black tights || Black ankle boots: TK Maxx

 

It is so easy to look professional, just put on a dress! Takes 20 seconds to get ready and you always look put together afterwards. Just make sure it's an appropriate length and isn't too revealing. The flowy sleeves on this dress makes it look so elegant, and the flower design gives a little bit of excitement to an otherwise simple outfit. Tights and boots finish off the look!

Dress - 15 USD

Links for Lunch || ...Or dinner?

My roommate made apple crumble dessert for our biochemistry study session! She's the best <3

 Just a few quick ones this week because it's the week-before-finals-major-study-mayhem-happening week!

It's so fascinating to read about the socioeconomical status of the country that gave me my roots. In particular, this article gives a brief description of women in society before the Iranian revolution (when Iran was known as Persia, and everything was so much better when it was known as Persia) and after it.  

Living in England has been a bit of an eye-opener for me! For example, did you know that they don't have annual physicals here?? People only go to see their doctors if they have a health complaint. I nearly lost my mind when I heard this... what about preventive health?! Anyhoo, here's a little bit more about the current events in the British Medical Association this week.

While studying anatomy, I've noticed that my professors keep saying - for example: "this region used to be called the Pouch of Douglas, but now we are getting away from the proper name and just call it rectouterine pouch." Here's an interesting take on the way that diseases are being named these days.

In case you want to know how I study the anatomy, I tend to use many youtube videos. Here is one of them. I use them solely as a visual reference and if I find any discrepancy, my notes and textbooks overrule whatever 3rd party material I use to study.

And finally, what do you do when you're sick at 30,000 ft??

OSCE I

 Cowlick short-sleeve sweater (option 1| option 2)

 The Limited Stretch Pants 

Primark floral pointed flats (similar 1| similar 2|similar 3)

Popping in to say hi to everyone! Today is OSCE day (Objective structural Clinical Examinations) - which means that we are being tested on professionalism and our basic knowledge of clinical anatomy. I've got one more week of classes and then finals! Eek! Can't believe we're at the end already!

Anyhoo, outfit is from last week when I didn't particularly feel very creative with my professional outfit. But my shoes are still cute, right?

Hope this week has been going well and a special Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends and family! We celebrated a combined American-Canadian Thanksgiving on November 1st, so I feel a bit detached from the holidays this year... hopefully someone save me a good leftover Thanksgiving sandwich?

Links for Lunch || Tea is for Tuesday

Since I started med school, I have found that taking pictures and blogging were the two mediums where I could let my creative flow live. Every picture you have seen so far in these series (Links for lunch) have been shots that I captured since I started school. And all of this was done with my lil' ol' iPhone 5c. I've been seriously considering getting a professional camera, but for now, I will enjoy the moments that other very gifted and talented visionaries have captured this year.

Can I live here please? Great, thanks! These apartments are absolutely breathtaking in both their architectural design and the integration of natural and man-made materials.

We are currently doing Head and Neck in our Anatomy class, so when I came across this article, I was really excited!! The video is probably the coolest part because I can actually understand the anatomy part of the surgical procedure. Even if you're not a major medical dork, I'd hope that you'd still find this interesting...

Our cadaver textbook is not the best book out there (several things are labeled incorrectly) so you learn to appreciate when someone creates a beautiful dissection.

And finally, here's a little plug of my school: "The Harvard of the Caribbean" :P

Pattern, Ruffles, and Minion Cufflinks

 

 The Limited (old) || Skirt (old) || Tights: DSW || Boots: TK Maxx 30 USD

I'm proud of this outfit for three reasons: 1) I'm wearing patterns! 2) I'm not covered in black from head to toe, and 3) I'm wearing boots in a professional look. I managed to pull off patterns two weeks in a row, and coming from someone who likes to have simplistic look, it's a big accomplishment. I've been trying to channel Adina from BlueCollarRedLipstick since I started following her two years ago. She has an amazing eye for pattern matching, and I'm trying to step out of my comfort zone thanks to her.

Last time I wore this top was probably sometime last year, and I told myself I would find a way to bring it back into my wardrobe. And that day is today! I love the ruffled sleeves, and the colors of the top allows for a lot of color matching, so I can't go wrong! It's also a very forgiving top, especially when the temperature in the lab is unpredictable (no one will ever know I am sweating like a pig... except you guys...)

(I really hate the green colored carpet in my flat, it's EVERYWHERE)

These boots were a much needed addition to my closet. My last pair were from Payless, and as much as I loved them (wore them for 2-3 years), I was wearing them so much that the insoles were getting worn out and the suede color were getting quite stained. These are perfect for rainy days, which... is almost every day (England weather... go figure!) I still need to waterproof them because I don't think they are completely protective against large British puddles.

I was outdone by one of my classmates this week though.... I mean... Minion Cufflinks!! What an amazing find! I love how my classmates stay true to their personalities while still looking professional.

Finally, I live you guys with my inspiration for the rest of the year. I can only dream of looking this good in my white coat.

Cheers!

Links for lunch || BLT with a T

This recent article summarizes a study done and published in the New England Journal of Medicine regarding different methods of CPR and their impact on patient outcome, hospital time after resuscitation, and time to discharge. I find this article quite fascinating because my home state recently switched to the continuous chest compressions protocol.

Here's another article relating to a world that's very close to my heart. An EMT, paramedic, firefighter, ER nurse, doc, or anyone involved in the Emergency Department of any hospital can tell you that the environment takes quite a toll on your life.

Sometimes I'd like to throw everything away and think, why not get paid a ton of money and become a linewoman? I'd get to climb and see beautiful sceneries, be around a bunch of really macho guys. This article makes quite a compelling argument...no?

And in order to have a good mindset about the upcoming OSCEs, here's a fun little Youtube video.

Cheers!

It has giraffes on it!

H&M Giraffe top (similar)|| The Limited Stretch Pants || Primark Floral Flats (cute alternative)

This shirt makes me really excited to dress up for Physical Examination days. Last week was the first time I wore it to school and I received so many compliments, who knew so many people liked giraffes? Not exactly sure if the shoes fit with the rest of the outfit, maybe the fact that I have two very different patterns... but they have similar colors so I was hoping it worked in this case. The shoes are some of the most comfortable flats I've ever worn, and they were only 2 pounds (about 5 USD)!! I love the design and color because they can help create a professional look or pair well with a casual outfit. Seriously, I'm in love...

We're getting to a part of the ultrasound training where we can examine major organs in the abdomen, which we will need in the future for fast examinations. I look forward to these little moments of the week where I can get some hands-on experience, and remember my past medical experience when the ER docs did these very techniques in life saving moments.

And now I'm off to touch people's faces test cranial nerves for the first time!

Links for Lunch || Dorking out

I've done quite a few posts and series relating to fashion and outfits, but I don't think I'm showing my true personality on the blog. In these series, I'd like to introduce to you my dorkier side where I share different articles relating to medicine, science, or - what might look like random topics - things I love to read about and I think are worth sharing. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do, and please share your finds. I could always use more reads for my lunch breaks!


With over 50% of students in my program being from Canada, I get to hear about a lot of news and lessons from Canadia, as I like to call it. And I have to say, Canadia is pretty darn cool. One of them managed to cross the blood brain barrier to successfully treat brain tumors. Here is the research article that shows results in the animal studies. 
 
If you haven't been hearing this one already, winter is coming! An interesting read about how colds travel around in the winter.

This one isn't exactly a short read, or a "read" for that matter but I still thought it's worth sharing. A series of lectures from Standford University about Human Behavioral Biology. I've seen a bit of the first video and I'm keeping this bookmarked for when I need a break from my basic medical sciences lectures.

Pediatric units in hospitals use phototherapy to treat neonatal jaundice, which is usually a normal condition resulting from immature liver cells. Most newborns do not have a fully functional liver, so we'd like to help it along. Science helping tiny humans! Hell yea!

Hi, I'm a medical student and I'm going to examine you today...

I find that by putting on a dress, the professionalism points go up automatically. Maybe it's the style of dresses I have in my wardrobe that makes me think that, or maybe it's because it's a no-brainer in terms of matching. I don't have to think about if the top matches the bottom or if I need to have the right heel so that the end of my pants don't touch the ground. And it helps to wear a white coat on top! Easy peezy lemon squeezy!

Madewell dress (similar) | Opaque tights | Primark Grey heels | Black skinny belt

Not sure if the grey heels with black tights was the right call here, but I don't know, I kinda like it... What do you guys think, would you let me examine you? Have you found any new dress finds in the professional department?

Purple Skirt Envy

Yesterday, I showed you guys one of the first outfits I put together when I have to interact with standardized patients. Here is what one of my classmates wore. I absolutely adore the color of her skirt, and it fits so well with the top. This is an appropriate outfit since the tights allow for the higher hem and the shirt and folded high on the chest.

Want to recreate this look?
-Try this shirt from H&M
-This skirt is similar, so as this one, or you could try this option which uses the outfit above as inspiration
-Finish up with a simple pair of black tights and comfortable flats


I just got bombarded with material that I have to memorize so I'll be at the library for the weekend trying to get around the anatomy of the legs.  I'd love to hear what kinds of outfits you've put together recently so don't hesitate to comment below!

Thursday's Professional Wear

My school schedules practice physical examination with standardized patients on Thursdays, so I've decided to show you my professional outfits from past weeks. This way I can chronicle my attire and see how it changes over time, and this is the perfect opportunity to get some feedback. Suggestions and ideas are definitely welcomed!

Grey pointed heels: Primark | Navy Pants: The Limited | Scalloped Top: Loft Outlet | Purple Cardigan: Gap Outlet

I am in love with these heels! I never liked pointed toes but these are the right angle, or at least that's what I have told myself... They are probably not the best quality, or at least I can feel it in my bone based on how much I paid for them (£10 = about 15 USD), but I don't think anyone can tell the different between these and a high-end pair of heels. The cardigan may not be the right cover or layer for this outfit, but I exchanged it for my white coat during physical examinations. What would have made a better layered top? I'd love to hear what you guys have in mind. 

Time for me to go act like a doctor!

When the city is still asleep and there is no one on the streets...

This is my favorite time to walk around the city. There is this stillness in the air, and you feel like you are the only one in the world. Nature is awake of course, an hour early actually. And she's begging for the people to wake up, but no one seems to hear.

The leaves have started to change. They are reminding you to change as well, for nothing stays the same. So get out of bed, and start out your day already! Walk down the street and listen to those leaves dance in the wind, so excited to feel the rays of sunshine which so seldom come these days. Cherish every footstep, every breath.

Enjoy the day for it never comes again...

School days

Med school is kicking my butt right now, but thankfully I have a long weekend to catch up on studying and blogging! I missed you guys so much! So let's get down to what I've been wearing recently. 

Above is a sheer-like tunic I bought back in the states. I really like the colors and the placement of the stripes. I'm wearing it with a tank-top underneath, black skinny jeans I managed to grab at Old Navy for 49 cents (I tripled checked with the cashier on the price because I couldn't believe it!) and white Converse sneakers. This is great for those days where I want to look put together but don't want to put too much effort into it. Tunic + pants + flat shoes = my new uniform for school. I didn't add a scarf here because it was still pretty warm out, but I also have been rotating through my scarves on the daily now that it's chilled down in Newcastle.

Another easy look! Semi-fitted skirt with leather trims ($10 trunk sale in Lewes, Delaware) on the sides paired with a simple nude tank top and magenta cardigan from Gap Outlet (old - $15) (similar here). I added one of my favorite scarves on top (gift from mom). The sandals are from Kenneth Cole Reaction (3 seasons ago - $20 Outlet store) and the bag is from TJ Maxx (originally $150, down to $50) Mom found the purse and it was my go to bag in the first two months of classes.

In case you are wondering, there is no dress code for our medical school, but I try my best to look as put together as possible when attending lectures. Looking professional, or at the most, not like I rolled out of bed and into the classroom in the morning, really changes my outlook on the day ahead. The professors always complement the best dressed in class and take note of who puts effort into their looks, so it doesn't hurt ;)

That's it for now, will try to post my next set of outfits soon, but in the meantime. Check out my professional look on the next post!

First few days of Term 1

I finally have more of a regular schedule so I'm gonna get back to posting more often!

Here is the outfit I wore on the 16 hour trip. I have a Pinterest board dedicated to outfits that look comfy and put together, and here I did neither... I'm wearing jeans which are at least stretchy so they were pretty comfortable. And you can obviously see my orange sports bra undearneath my shirt. So I kinda missed the mark here. But my shear excitement over the fact that I was going 1) away to another country, and 2) away from anyone I had come to know over the last 15+ years overcomes the lack of fashion edginess here. To be honest, I was pretty comfortable in this outfit, but will definitely try to improve on the fashion aspect for the next overseas trip...

 Gateshead Millennium Bridge

This bridge is found in my new home, Newcastle upon Tyne. I think it's the only one in the world that tilts in order to let boats get by below it. It's pretty damn sweet!!! Loving the city, everything seems new and shiny, even the dirty old streets :D

White coat ceremony!

 Even though I longed for the day when I would receive my white coat, I somehow was still not prepared for what I would wear underneath it. I always pictured wearing a nice statement dress, but in the end I wore one of my favorite dress shirts and a pencil skirt. One of my go-to outfits and it still had some pizzaz in my opinion. You can sort of see the details in the picture above. The hair on the other hand was not as great as I'd wanted it. You win some, you lose some right?

We're about to have our midterms in a week or so, and man I'm pretty much living, breathing, and sleeping my notes, textbooks, and lectures at this point. Hopefully I'll have time to put out my post about what I wore during the first few weeks of classes! What have you guys been up to?

Food Delights || August

After setting up my new home in Newcastle England, I've made it a priority to try some of the local food. A lot of things I could find in America, but there's nothing like getting the authentic culinary skills of The Brits.

During orientation, we were offered an authentic Afternoon Tea  at a highly regarded hotel called The Vermont  in Newcastle upon Tyne. And it didn't disappoint. The scones were delicious, as well as the custard! Oh my, it was devine! And I don't think I need to say anything about the tea, I mean... we are in the land of Earl Grey tea after all.

Trying out some mouth watering fish and chips! I think the first week I was here I had 3 of these. The fish is so fresh, the breading so crispy and the fries... I don't think you can find fries made like that in America. Or at least, I've looked...

My father came to visit for a couple of days and we ended up sharing this specific meal. He was able to enjoy the fish and chips and I had the steak and fries at Pitcher and Piano.

Pizza.... Ah, what can I say about pizza. I'm in love - I was born in the South of France, about an hour away from Italy, so I'm really picky when it comes to a good slice of pizza. This pizza here comes pretty close to the style that I love, so any chance I get to pop over to Grainger Market in Northumbria City Center, I will get my hands on one! The dough is light and thin without being crispy, and the marriage of tomato sauce, cheese, and herbs are in perfect harmony. My friend decided to try the ham and mushroom, but honestly... you can't go wrong with any of them and the serving sizes are pretty great for the price!

The pub grub is pretty damn spectacular as well! Here is the Sunday Lunch at Tanners Arms. The best way to describe the way this taste is to imagine that your mother spent all weekend trying to cook this meal, and after a week of hard work and sleep exhaustion, it's exactly what the doctor ordered (or at least I did!) I've been there a few times now, so here is some of the things I ordered. At the top, it's beef and gravy with pork skins and puffin. In the middle, there's chicken and chips with puffin - and once again gravy... it's like a Thanksgiving dinner every time. You can see all the sides that could come with the dish. Honey grazed carrots, peas, mashed potatoes, cabbage and bacon (my personal favorite!), and whole cooked potatoes. And finally at the bottom, the latest dish I ordered was sausage, onions, and mashed potatoes surrounded by a moat of amazing juices - I honestly don't know what was in that but I couldn't get enough of it!

Tanners Arms, like many of the pubs here, has a very relaxed atmosphere. Very quiet, hole in the wall kind of feel. But man, it's exactly what you need after a rough week. And they even have a pool table, live entertainment at night, and even board games sitting on the mantle waiting to be played. My kind of place!

Eating out is fun but it sure burns a whole in my wallet. So here we have a few meals that me and my friend made. Living close to the sea, Newcastle receives some of the freshest fish I've ever seen, and I have a specific fishmonger I like to frequent because of the quality of the salmon. Here I have pan fried salmon and a side salad. Simple in preparation and one of the best dishes I think I've ever made. By cleaning off the scales, the skin becomes a crispy little treat and the favorite part of this whole dish. My friend makes the salad to the right almost everyday. It is one of the most colorful salads I've ever seen prepared and brought to class. Her culinary skills make me quite envious, but I'd probably get fat from all the amazing dishes she creates! Find her on her blog here.

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for the food finds I had in September!

So, here's what it's like to be in Med School Year 1...

Catching up on sleep anywhere we can...

Anyone having a similar experience??