Sunny Days and Sundresses, and Tips to Not Overwhelm Yourself

Happy Monday!

I honestly can't believe its the end of July! This month was a whirlwind with moving, travel, winding down with experiments, rediscovering my motivation, lessening stress, and getting things done from my to-do list. And also, my moving-across-the-country-again is quickly approaching, and its a bit terrifying. I'm trying to soak up the sunny days and good weather before I head east to the winter.

On the weekends I have started wearing more and more of my sun dresses, of course with a floral print, to run errands, get brunch with friends, hang out at the beach, or even to go out at night. I really like white as it is a chill summer color, and the details of this dress are just so pretty! I really liked the details of this dress from SheIn, and it was so comfortable - this Floral Print Drawstring elastic Waist Cami Dress comes in just one size, and it fits perfectly! The drawstring detail in the back with two little pearls was also just darling! Also was a great price, definitely fits into my budget right now, and totally affordable for grad students or anyone on a budget.

Nip and Fab - and Snake Venom

Stress has caused my skin to break out badly, lots of redness and fine lines... I've been trying to take better care of my skin, especially as I get older. I went to Sephora and bought some new cleanser, toner, and moisturizer, but I've been bad at implementing a new regimen cuz #lazy. I've noticed I have to use more cover up lately especially when I shoot for the blog.

I was sent these new products from @nipandfab to try and I've tested them out for better and picture perfect images. I was mostly intrigued by the name of each product, and was super interested in reading about the science behind how it works! 

10 Things I wish I knew about Grad School - Part II

Hi everyone!
Today I'm bringing you part 2 to my "10 things I wish I knew about Grad School," or, rather, 10 things I wish people told me sooner, as I learned this on my own during my journey, and its more advice I'd like to give newer grad students! You can read the Part I guide HERE.

1. Networking is an ongoing thing throughout grad school - I managed to network and make many connections through grad school via all of my involvement in various organizations and outreach. It's never too late to get involved, and its a good way to make organic connections. I know a lot of people who enter their final or second to final year of grad school and make a note to start "networking." A lot of times people try to meet so and so who works at X company, and it just comes off as needy - people can tell when all you want to do when talking to them is have them refer you to a job. If you have done this, its no biggie, but just my opinion that its always more organic and less awkward if you build relationships over time, and THEN ask for a referral favor. Example: join student government club, meet older grad student who is graduating and going to X company for job. Worked closely with student who is leaving and became acquaintances, and when its time to apply for jobs, its a lot easier to message and ask for a referral!

July Sizzling Fashion - The Asymmetric Maxi Dress

These last couple of weeks have been such a whirlwind and so busy; these last three weeks (how is it three weeks into July... time is flying!) I moved apartments, did a lot of experiments, and traveled to New Orleans for a Beachbody fitness conference! It was a lot of fun, and it left me with a lot of inspiration. It was also SO humid and hot, which I wasn't used to - in Los Angeles we have a dry heat. 90 degree weather with 90% humidity was unbearable. I still had a good time nonetheless - and I will have a travel diary post coming up soon! With such heat, had to adjust my outfits to pieces that were flowy and breezy - and what better than some maxi dresses? I packed two, and I wore one because the rest of the time I was in workout gear, but I am really loving maxi dresses with floral print and asymmetric hems for summer!  The dress I wore was a floral/leaf print with an asymmetric hem, and it was so flattering! I did a search for other women's fashion stores online, as I wanted to change up my selection of items - among my usual websites, I came across Yoins.com - I thought their site name is really clever and cute - stands for Your Inspiration! How appropriate and relevant for my current mindset!

I came across a really pretty selection of floral print and really trendy women's stylish dresses, and I picked a few of these down below (clickable images to shop). They also have a wide selection of dresses and grad student affordable fashion sexy tops, skirts, bottoms, etc. Ive been having fun scrolling through their dresses section, and trying really hard to not spend a fortune! Yoins also have a selection of activewear, bags, accessories, and shoes! I always have to take a look at the fitness selection; I can never have enough sports bras or leggings!

Prime Day - My Amazon Picks!

Hi loves!
Happy July!
This summer is flying by! I've been so busy with finishing up experiments, moving, fixing up my blog images, preparing for my new job, and preparing to move across the country. I've been selling a lot of things and still am, but I'm always buying things off amazon. Since I don't have a regular address right now its tough for me to order things - I order things like cat litter, cat food, shoes, clothes, exercise gear, and other random things I want (I bought popsicle molds last! haha!), especially because I'm a prime member, so I get free shipping and there's usually good deals. I literally furnished my entire first apartment ordering things on prime - I bought my TV, kitchen things, side tables, patio tables, bedroom things, home gym gear, you name it. It was really easy for me when I didn't have a car to go to the store! And if you are a student, there is a Prime Student Rate if you have an .edu email! If you see you shop on amazon frequently and don't want to pay for shipping, you can join Prime HERE.

Every year there's Amazon Prime Day, and theres basically 30 hrs of deals. I try not to spend too much, but I'll check out what the lightning deals are. I bought a 2 GB flash drive for pretty cheap last prime day! It starts at 9 pm EST on July 10th (or 6 pm PST!).
Here are some of my picks for Prime Day!

1. Watches - JORD wood watches
I just realized JORD now sells their watches on Amazon! I reviewed their watch previously, and you can find it on Amazon with free shipping! I loved the simple, turquoise wood watch! It was so beautiful and unique! I personally love the darker wood color, find the link below:

Post PhD Summer Trends - Bandeau Bikinis and Cape Dresses

Hi loves!

Hope your week is off to a great start! I'm bringing you the next Summer 17 Trends on my list, featuring Bandeau Bikinis and Cape Dresses! I'm seriously wanderlusting lately, wishing I could be on the beach in the mediterranean without a care... and these trends are totally those vibes! The next trend on my list is the Black Bandeau Bikini, although I need more support up top, so I tend to gravitate towards tops that are strapless but come with straps so I can easily convert it to more support if I need it! These two are two of my favorites right now. I love mix and matching solids and prints, and especially love the colors of the bottom. I also love the molded cups, helps keep the top up! The second one is very scrappy, which I love right now too! I have a very similar swim suit right now in my rotation!

Post PhD Summer Trends - Embroidery

Hi loves, Now that the PhD is done, I have been pretty busy trying to plan and finish up some experiments, attending a conference, and moving. Things should hopefully slow down at the beginning of the month, and I'm looking forward to relaxing a bit. Today was the first day of summer and the longest day of the year, and I am just loving the weather here in LA! It's been quite nice and I love that daylight is longer, I love leaving lab and still seeing sunshine! It really improves my mood, even if I've been in lab late! I have been wanting to go shopping, but I have been trying to clean out my closet as it is packed full, and with my upcoming move across the country, I need to get rid of some old clothes to make room for the new! I have been eying some of the Summer 2017 trends, and one of my favorite trends right now is floral embroidery! And one of the funny things about this trend is that it's totally 90s, am I right?! The 90s trends are coming back!
I have hand picked some of my favorites pieces with embroidery from SheIn.com, and they are all really affordable pieces, perfect for a grad student budget. These pieces can easily be worn on the weekends for summer brunch with friends, heading to the beach, or even dressing up to go to work or a conference (if its appropriate that is!).

    

        Embroidered Dress                           Sheer Mesh Panel Embroidered Shirt

10 Things I wish I knew before going to Grad School

Hi loves,

Well, the thesis defense has come and gone! I will recap the experience in another post coming soon! I did live stream it, although I never got around to announcing it on here, but if you follow me on social media, you should have seen the announcement! It was saved to my Facebook page, so you can replay and take a look! I refuse to watch it again...hahah!
These last couple of days post defense have been a lot of reflection and stressing out about the things I have to finish up before moving on to the next stage, which includes finishing some experiments with whatever time I have left at UCLA and moving two times.
I'm also showcasing an outfit I put together as a conference or social look - with a blouse and a skirt my aunt sent me from Cyprus! I decided to pair orange with a black, patterned top, but I would also just go with a solid black top!

I wanted to share some tips with you, 10 things I wish I knew before going to Grad School, as I feel like I have a lot of wisdom I can share, and help people with things I had to learn the hard way! I wrote a similar post on ways to take care of yourself in grad school, which you can also check out for some tips!

1. You are among the best of the best. 
Something I struggled with was not being the smartest in the room, and putting myself down for it. In order to even get to graduate school, you had to go thru an interview process, and were hand selected to join a few others in a cohort class for whatever department you are joining. You are among the best of the best. And it's ok to not be THE best. It's impossible. At times I felt stupid for not understanding topics as fast as my classmates, and just know that its ok. Everyone learns things differently and at different rates, with different methods. When I did study groups, others would catch the material fast and I would still not understand it. I studied better on my own.

Conference Fashion Inspo Line Up - Thesis is Near

Hello loves!
I am back again with a new post, this time I'm sharing some of my lusts and wants for conference fashion inspiration! I am done with writing my dissertation and now all that is left is formatting and compiling the chapters together, and I have an over 150 page document!! How's that for 6 years of PHD! I am almost a Dr!! My Dissertation defense is on June 8, but I am not too stressed out about it.
Instead I am trying to pick out what outfit to wear, as I want to look polished and sleek!
I am also presenting at a meeting towards the end of June - I am going to be presenting my latest publication work, for the first time, and I am really excited! It will be after I have my PhD but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to present my work and network!
Well, anyway, here are some of my picks for conference fashion, and I have been a huge fan of dress pants, pretty blouses, and pretty heels/booties. The links are shoppable, so you can easily find the products if you happen to fall in love with a certain product!

I hope to be bringing you more guides like this when I have more time during this summer!

Conference Fashion Inspiration:

What is your favorite blazer/blouse/dress pant combination?
Let me know in the comments below!

xo
Andrea





*Disclaimer, this page contains affiliate links - no change in cost to you if you choose to shop, but any proceeds made go to the maintenance of this blog! :) *

The Elegant Dress from SheIn - and ways to take care of yourself during Grad School

Hello lovely people!

Today I am bringing you an outfit post and also some tips on ways to take care of yourself, especially during times of high stress as in grad school or a stressful job!

I received this really pretty Contrast Fit and Flare Mesh and Lace elegant dress from SheIn and I just love love love the lace detail! It is such an elegant dress, that can be worn to a formal event, formal dinner, or an awards ceremony! It was also very affordable on my grad student budget, can you believe this dress is less than $30 on SheIn ? Totally my jam! I really enjoyed styling it, and kept my accessory details simple to keep the focus on the dress! I also put my hair up in a messy bun, which I never usually wear my hair up, so it was a nice change! I paired the outfit with simple black heels and some dangling pearl earrings, as well as simple glam makeup and some red lipstick! 

I enjoy dressing up to go to lab (well, not in this dress obviously!) but it is so nice to get glam every once in a while - helps me feel like a human being :) 

Keep reading for my tips on staying sane during really stressful times in grad school....

My Current Favorite Beauty Products

Happy Monday!
I am back to blogging, with my dissertation due in a few weeks, so it is crunch time! I have 3 weeks exactly to submit to my committee, and one month exactly until my thesis defense! But I couldn't let it go without posting on my blog, and making a youtube video, to be exact! I can't wait to get back into regular blogging after I defend, I hope to ramp up the articles and some useful grad school articles for tips on various topics! I also want to write an article about career options in science and also do a live video on my instagram or Facebook page! Let me know what you think about all of these, and if there is anything you would like to see!

Anyway, Check out my Current Favorite Beauty Products!

Fitness and Fashion - Conference Looks and Workout Leggings

Happy new week!

Today I'm bringing you a quick post about two things I'm currently obsessed with - Conference/Interview looks and fitness. 

Since I have been interviewing and networking for jobs Post-PhD, I've been really looking at pretty dresses that can be worn during the hotter spring/summer months as well as some really pretty floral prints. I found these three on SheIn - and they fit right in with my current grad student budget. They are long enough and stylish to be acceptable for conferences, networking, and perhaps a more casual interview, when paired with a blazer. 

I have also been so into fitness clothes lately as my life has revolved around working out in order to help deal with stress of dissertation writing, planning March for Science LA, blogging, experiments, and everything else that I have on my plate! As I mentioned in my previous post, I started doing doubles after finishing two months of an insanity program, and I have been seeing really great results!

As a grad student, the last year and a half of making my health (both physical and mental) has been such a great relief and helped me feel more like a normal human being. I have made working out like a required meeting with myself, because without my health, I can't do everything that I want to be doing! I'm also always motivated by new workout clothes, especially affordable and cute leggings. I've been digging mesh panels too, as they allow a peak of skin! Take a look, and they're at a great price.

Conference Looks
Black Scallop Off The Shoulder Ruffle Dress	Navy Flower Print Cutout Back Pleated Dress	Multicolor Floral Cutout Sleeveless Shift Dress

Fitness and #PhitforPhD Challenge

Hey loves!
A lot has happened since my last post - I'm still alive, just been super busy juggling the beast that is PhD!
I have a few posts lined up for the next few weeks, but just wanted to update!
I have interviewed and been offered/accepted a post doc position at a company, and I couldn't be more excited! But that means I have to move across the country, to Boston to be exact. It is a huge change, and it means long distance relationship for some time... but it is doable, and I know everything will be ok. I've spent a lot of time thinking and crying, and I had to go with my heart.
I've also set a date for my dissertation defense, June 8, so the count down is on! I have started making figures for my final chapter of my dissertation, and the rest of the dissertation is written - so I am just at the last stretch!
In order to combat stress, I have been really focusing on working out. Since the first of the year, I have done back to back programs, starting with a cardio kickboxing/MMA style program, and then followed that with a 60 day program of Insanity Max 30, a high intensity interval training program. I saw amazing results with this, and even though I didn't lose weight on the scale, I overall lost 3 inches, and gained so much endurance. I started the first week severely doubting myself and doubting I could do 60 days of this -- but I still pushed thru, and found that by month two, I was pushing myself even harder and actually excited to do my workouts! It was such a great feeling!
Here are my results photos from my fitness instagram account (@labcoatsandlegday)

Here are my #transformationtuesday results from day 1 (left) to day 60 (right) of IM30! 60 days of high Intensity insanity workouts that are only 30 min, ccpc meal plan, daily superfoods, checking in with my ladies, and working on my self! I lost 2.5 - 3 inches, endurance thru the roof (I maxed out in a few of the workouts during week 7 of 8!) , I feel so much stronger! And my weight stayed the same - I'm floating between 152-155. I've Been eating at 1500-1800 range, and I haven't been absolutely consistent the whole time but it's payed off when I have! Butt feels tighter and lifted, my thighs have slimmed down and they are my insecurity spot, hips and tummy down, and arms and shoulders feel stronger, oh and have definition in my calves! I also did doubles these last two weeks for An extra challenge! Trying to decide what to do next, I want to channel my inner badass and do max out month and a lifting program! I overcame a lot of obstacles, mainly at the beginning where I started the first week of videos and almost quit, told myself this wasn't the workout for me, it was too tough. Well, 60 days later I smashed it!! And I'm going to continue working on progress instead of falling off like I usually do after finishing a program. I'm traveling the rest of this week so my schedule will be a little off, but I will be picking workouts to do on my on demand on my iPad or phone. And then starting a regular schedule on Monday! Please join me if you are in the Us or Ca and not working with a coach! Let's get results for summer! I can't believe it's the end of march! Send me a message or fill out form in my bio!

A post shared by Andrea (@labcoatsandlegday) on Mar 28, 2017 at 2:46pm PDT

The Everyday Bodycon Cold Shoulder Dress - SheIn

Hello!

Today I am bringing you an Everyday Grey Open Shoulder Ribbed Bodycon Dress from SheIn! I fell in love with this dress because it looks so comfortable and soft, and mostly because of the cold shoulder cut out look I have been so into this winter! I have a couple of other tops with the cut out shoulder look, and when I saw this dress had it - I fell in love! It is a ribbed/sweater dress, that is in bodycon style, so it hugs the curves, but it also has long sleeves, perfect for going out on cold nights!
I can really see my results from all my working out, especially in my legs and glutes. I have been really bloated lately, so I am critical of myself in bodycon dresses, but you just have to rock the dress! This Open Shoulder Dress is perfect for cold nights, and can also be worn with knee/thigh high boots! I paired it with some pointy heels for a more formal event, but would actually wear it out with some boots instead! It is super affordable too, so even better on a grad student budget!

Business Casual - The Interview Dinner Skirt from MakeMeChic

Happy Spring!
Today marks the first day of spring, and here in CA its been pretty nice these last few weeks, although we are expecting some spring showers this week!
I managed to get an second interview for a job next week, and have started writing my dissertation, so it has been a pretty crazy time lately, so I apologize for my lack of posts! I have also set a dissertation date (early June!), so the clock is ticking! I have a couple of outfit posts for this week, but not sure when I will have time to update again after!

Anyway, Today I bring you a business casual outfit to wear to an interview dinner or conference, featuring this High Waist Pleated Skirt from Makemechic.com!
I was very impressed with this skirt, and found it very flattering! It is high waisted and I was worried it wouldn't fit, but it zipped up perfectly! It has an A-line fit, and I am just so happy with the look! It is also only $20, which is a great deal for a quality piece, perfect for a grad student budget! I paired it with a wine floral top I got from Rue 21 at the mall, and some wine colored accessories to complete the look! I loved the pleats of the skirt and found it can be paired very nicely with various tops and colors; very versatile since it is black! I am all about capsule looks, and since I am going to be flying across the country, I want to not have to pack much but also bring pieces that I can mix and match - If I was to wear this skirt for the actual interview I could wear a silk blouse, and some other heels! I would totally wear this skirt and top combo to a conference networking event, poster session, or an interview dinner!

Every Day Makeup Look Tutorial for Lab or Work!

Hi everyone!
I have been really busy with lab and other things I have going on, so sorry for lack of posts but I have some new looks to post about soon!

Today I bring you an Every Day Makeup Look Tutorial, using some of my favorite drugstore products (and some items from Sephora, but you can find easy subs!) to create this look:

 This look is simple and not over the top, and can be worn to the lab, to work, to a conference, whatever you'd like! It takes me about 5-10 minutes to do, but takes longer in the video because I'm explaining, so don't be afraid!

Watch below, and let me know what kind of tutorials you would like to see next! I have also linked the products below!

Shop the Products in the Video: 

Let me know your thoughts on the look or if you have tried any of these products before!

xo
Andrea

Spring is Blooming with JORD

Happy March!
It is almost time for Spring, and I am counting down the days for warmer weather and blooms! LA is year round nice weather most of the time, but we've had an actual "winter" this year, with lots of rain to help get most of the state out of a drought, with the exception of some parts of southern California!
In addition, I am entering the final months of my PhD and while it feels like its been forever and time is going by slowly, May/June will be here before I know it! I am going to start writing the last parts of my dissertation come April! I am currently looking for research jobs but also exploring other options like science writing! 

Here is a lab friendly outfit I put together, with this really pretty cold shoulder top. I am in love with this trend for Winter/Spring, and I love that this specific top can let some color peek thru, as I have paired with with various colors. Some dark jeans and some boots, and the look is perfect for the lab! But we can't forget about accessories - and for this outfit, I based my outfit on my accessories! Does anyone else ever do that??  I purposely looked for an outfit I can match with my new women's watch by JORD Woodwatches, mostly because of the really cool Mint watch face.

Conference and Interview Looks on a Grad Student Budget - Shein

Hey loves!

Happy February!

It's been a rather hectic couple of weeks since my last post, but I have finally been able to get some more inspiration! I went thru a dark period of helplessness and sadness about current world situations, but I have finally found my way to deal with it, by being active about issues that are important to me... but it is draining my energy!

This weekend I was finally able to recharge and relax, and prepare for an interview for a job post-PhD!

Here is some inspiration for outfits to wear to a conference, interview, formal networking event, whatever, and you can be fashionable while at it! And in addition, they don't break the bank! Thanks SheIn for great deals! I picked dresses, tops, and a lot of blazers - blazers are very versatile, and can be reborn with multiple pieces, so you can get one staple piece and pair with multiple tops and bottoms! This is especially helpful if you are traveling for conferences, minimizes the amount of clothes and outfits to bring! A good blazer is always a good thing to have as a part of a capsule wardrobe! 

These dresses are simple and flattering - with some cool detail like bell sleeves, fun patterns, and special hems! I want all of them in my closet, and with the prices, I'm sure I could afford them!

I really like the detail of the tops, especially the scalloped white top - such a pretty top to pair with a nice pair of jeans or dress pants! Could see myself wearing that to lab or a special event!

Dresses
Bell Sleeve Pencil Dress	Porcelain Print Pencil Dress	Black Scalloped Hem Keyhole Dress

Life with Anxiety

Hi everyone,

Today I feel the need to just vent and express my story. I'm being very vulnerable but I think this needs to come out, and I hope it helps even one person realize they aren't alone in whatever they are going through. 

read on if you dare...

Pearl & Clasp - Beautiful Elegant Earrings

Hey everyone! 

Happy Monday!

I wanted to feature a classic accessory I styled in my fashion post last week - when I styled this MakeMeChic dress, I accessorized with some simple white and blue pieces that I featured, but I wanted to focus on these classic Dangling Freshwater Pearl earrings from Pearl & Clasp.

They have a huge selection of freshwater pearl stud earrings to choose from, but I felt that these dangling earrings were in my style as I don't wear many studs, and these ones were perfect. These little pearls are 5-6 mm and are "A" quality as far as pearls go! They are super pretty and just a classic addition to any outfit, for going out, for lab, or even workwear/conference wear! I even wore these during the holidays, was a really nice and classic look along with simple and dressy outfits!

L'Oreal EverPure Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner Review

Hey guys!
Happy weekend!
I just wanted to share a quick video review I made for my new L'Oreal Ever Pure Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner I was sent to test out by Influenster - part of the #Freeyourhair campaign, but all opinions are my own!!! My hair felt soft and much better after air drying and not having to dry it with the hair dryer or style it! Check out the video below and let me know what you think!

Sleep like a Champion - Why you need sleep

Hello and happy almost weekend!

I decided I am going to try to write a weekly health post series for the blog, discussing some science along with WHY its important for your health, so each week (or so I hope!) I will be discussing different issues! 

This week I wanted to talk about sleep and how important it is for you to get the right amount of rest, especially to keep up with a busy schedule! 

I am guilty of not sleeping enough. Sometimes I fee like I am an energizer bunny that just keeps going and going. The older I have gotten also I realized I can't function on less sleep like I used to. When I was in undergrad, I used to be able to sleep for 3-4 hours a night, go to lab or class, do my homework and studying, and then go out to hang out with friends, and do it all over again. If I even think about doing that now, I just get tired.

Spring and Winter in LA - MakeMeChic

Hello!
Can't believe we are already halfway done with the month! Time is flying by!
The weather in LA has been rather up and down... we had some big storms, with much needed rain that helped our state come out of Extreme Drought, and then the sun popped out here and there for a beautiful clear day! This weekend it was rather nice, but still chilly.

Since I have been all covered up in lab and because of the cold weather, the first sign of clear weather I put on this really pretty Floral Print Scoop Neck A-line Dress from Make Me Chic. I adored the floral print, and I really loved that it was white with a blue pattern, it felt very classy and chic. The material was also really soft and comfortable, and I loved the sweetheart neckline, I feel like it is very flattering on my body type. It was also a sleeveless dress, which looked really pretty with the design of the dress - I really liked the shape of this dress! Hitting right above the knee, it was the perfect length for me, especially as a petite girl, and along with a pair of heels, made me look a lot taller! The dress also had an invisible zipper on the side, which made it easy to put on.

To keep warm when the sun went down and the temperature dropped, I wore a long black cardigan that you can easily wrap around yourself.

How to pick the perfect Maxi Dress for Petite Women - StyleWe

Happy Wednesday!

I'm back into my regular routine of lab work and working out/eating well and trying to find time to relax, but I just got back my paper reviews, so I have some work to do. I also have a committee meeting to discuss graduation/defense plans, and hopefully set a date... so I have a lot going on outside of the blog, and I'm trying to get my fitness business up and running... so you can say I am a bit stressed!

BUT, I have been doing some online window shopping (I can't really spend money right now, I am under a lot of financial stress with bills, if you saw my credit card bills you would be horrified!), and I have noticed certain trends that I like for going into Spring/Summer! 

I am particularly fond of maxi dresses, even though I am petite (I stand at only 5' 2"!). Most maxi dresses I have tried on before and have bought are way too long and I have to get altered, otherwise I am stepping all over the bottom of the dress. Even heels sometimes don't do the trick! 

A caveat - Maxi dresses/skirts are considered lab appropriate, as long as they cover the entire leg and are paired with shoes that cover the entire foot - I've worn maxis a couple of times to lab as they are more comfortable than pants, and when you have the right shoes, can be very stylish! A lot of times you can wear boots too, that's an easy and stylish fix!

Here are some tips I have come up with to help you pick out a maxi dress that is flattering, and some of the "trends" I am loving in terms of style of dress! I picked out these dresses from StyleWe's huge selection of Petite Maxi Dresses, so you can take a look at the variety of styles of maxis! 

Home Teeth Whitening for Coffee Addicts - Smile Brilliant

Hello everyone!
Hope you are having a great week so far, and hope it is a positive and peaceful one!
Today I wanted to share with you a review of a home teeth whitening kit that I've done and tested, with great results! I am a coffee addict, as every grad student is, and my teeth have gotten super stained. I used to drink only one cup of coffee a day but as I am in my 6th and final year, I have upped it to 2-3 cups a day...so you can only imagine the consequences on my teeth! So if your question is, does coffee stain your teeth, the answer is a big resounding YES. As a blogger and one who likes to take photos and selfies, yellow teeth can be a turn off. I was noticing my teeth were getting pretty yellow, and within the few weeks of starting the kit to when I actually started whitening, my teeth got so much more yellow, it was astounding!

I have tried other at home whitening kits, like the white strips, but my teeth and gums are always too sensitive, and I end up super uncomfortable. I did look around at the different options for teeth whitening - here are some tips for things you should know before buying a certain kit (here).

I came across the Smile Brilliant Home teeth whitening kit, and I was sent a whole kit to test out!
I was really excited to get started, mainly because it seemed to be everything that was provided at my dentist, but much more affordable and could do it in the comfort of my own home. I don't have much time to be running to dentist appointments every other day, and I can't afford the expensive treatments they offer! In addition, they say its perfect for people with sensitive teeth, since they offer a desensitizing gel with their treatment to sooth your teeth. I did do some research on their services, and found some tips and causes for tooth sensitivity, that you can read about here.

When I received the kit, it was complete with everything I needed - base and catalyst putty along with the impression trays, to create my custom whitening trays (score! its seriously like the dentist protocol!). They even had a postage prepaid envelope to send back the impressions once they hardened! The kit also came with three syringes of whitening gel and three syringes of desensitizing gel!

2016 Reflections - The Year of Travel and Self Love

Happy New Year everyone!

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year and Holiday Season!

I just got back from my trip to Jordan, and I had an amazing time! If you wanted to see my travel photos, take a look at my instagram (instagram.com/phd_fashionista). I will hopefully be doing a travel post soon featuring my highlights and also a video of some things :)