Meal Reflections and My New Hobby - Cooking Video Review with Blue Apron

Hey guys! Since I've been on a more healthy kick and really focused on my fitness, I have been really into cooking my own meals. Ive found that my stomach doesn't respond well at all anymore to processed and outside foods. Every time lately when I eat out with friends or get take out, I'm left with a very unhappy stomach.

With a little extra work, I've been able to find a meal plan and delicious recipes that work, and all are made by ME, so I know every ingredient and what exactly goes into my meals! I have been following this color coded portion control meal plan, which has done wonders for me in keeping balanced macros and correct portions. Pairing up following the meal plan with my workout programs, I've seen greatly reduced bloat, feeling great, and great results. On thanksgiving I didn't have a traditional Turkey meal, but instead had a really delicious Middle Eastern meal, and it was AMAZING. Although, I did feel sick after having my third slice of pumpkin cheese cake and my third glass of wine... I had a lot of Rice, carbs, and the other night at dinner I had way too much bread. After eliminating certain things like dairy and bread from my normal diet (not completely, but just very much smaller portions), now when I overeat these things, my body has a reaction. I never realized how your body can change and react to things you used to normally eat!

Holiday Gift Guide with Minu Jewels!

Hello loves!

Happy Friday! Are any of you shopping today for Black Friday deals?  I can't believe its already almost the end of November, and thanksgiving has come and gone! Now to the December holidays and the new year!

I am trying my best to not spend money, as I am on a graduate student budget and my credit card bills and utilities are through the roof, and I have to save money for my upcoming trip, but a girl can dream right?? So making a wishlist/gift guide is what I am doing instead!

I am gearing up for a trip to visit my boyfriend's family in two weeks, and I am flying to Jordan, my first time in the middle east! I am really excited because it is the first time I have ever not spent Christmas time with my family, but it will be worth it to explore new things and places! My wanderlust bug is in full effect!! And what better way to prep for a trip to the middle east than by indulging in some mediterranean inspired jewelry from Minu Jewels. 

I was introduced to this brand by my good friend Chantal from Boyajian Trend Gallery, who curated a selection of jewelry from various designers, including Minu Jewels. I instantly fell in love with the various collections, handmade by the designer herself, Mina. And those of you who have been following me from the start, know about how much I LOVE statement jewelry and pieces; it is part of my identity at this point.

Here are some of my picks, for those of you who need gift ideas for that special fashionista, and not quite sure what to get. These are so pretty and fashionable, excellent statement pieces for any occasion, even wearing to the lab! 

           

STATEMENT NECKLACES
Tye Necklace	Turquoise Slice	Egyptian Turquoise Necklace
Rasha Necklace	Felisa Necklace	Bedouin Turquoise Necklace
Hala Necklace	Daria Necklace	Druzy Necklace

Fabulous Accessories for the Holidays - Accessorize with Montana Silversmiths

Hello!
Happy Thanksgiving! Here in the US this week is all about giving thanks, and appreciating what you have. And more importantly, its about taking some much needed time off from the lab!
I just finished some long days/late nights of just writing writing writing, and sent off a final draft to my labmates for revisions before sending off to the journal for *hopefully* acceptance for publication! So I left lab early on this pre-Thanksgiving afternoon, and I jumped right on to get some blog posts written for you that I have lined up!
I have a small holiday wishlist, and a lot of those things on my list are accessories, and pieces I can match with clothing and outfits I already own. A great way to spice up your outfits is by adding some extra bling and pizzazz with your accessories, including earrings and necklaces!
I am a big lover of dangly and sparkly earrings, in addition to pendant necklaces, so when I discovered Montana Silversmiths Jewelry, I was a huge fan of their selection of really pretty pieces. They have a lot of timeless, classy earrings and necklaces, and it was hard just choosing a few to style!
Here are a few of their pieces I was sent to style, and they are my favorite! I fell in love, and they are super affordable and great quality pieces that will last.

First, I styled these Retro Flair Open Fan Earrings with a casual outfit I wore to the lab, and they were super pretty and stylish. In addition, because they had some bling on them, they really stood out in contrast with my dark hair!

#BossLady Chic with Romwe - Conference Outfit

Happy Friday!!
It's almost the weekend and what a week it has been!!
With the results from the recent elections, I'm still trying to process the results and what that means for us as a nation and for science.
I am on a twitter party right now for Science Communication, every week called #sciparty, and we are discussing just how important it is for us scientists be able to communicate our science and research effectively to the common person. It is so important we have the skills to be able to explain our findings to everyone, so everyone can understand that without research, we can't make advances to cure diseases and cancer! If you have any questions about research and the importance of funding research, please contact me, I'd love to chat!

Which leads me to this weekend, I am attending an on campus symposium tomorrow, all day, and I am presenting my research at a poster session! I jump at every opportunity to present my work, whether its on campus symposium, national or international conferences! The dress code is business casual, and I am going to wear this Black Floral Print Sleeveless Bodycon Dress from Romwe.com. It is the right length, midi length hitting right at the knee and slightly below, so its not too short, and also covers up on the top!  It is Bodycon style though, which for some might think it will be too tight, but that is why I ordered it a size up in Medium, and I think it fits perfectly. It is not uncomfortable while still showing a silhouette and still being classy! And this floral print is amazing! I am in love with it! I can't wait to present my research in this outfit! It is also a good #bosslady outfit for oral presentations! AH I'm in love!

Practical Lab Fashion with Shein.com - Criss Cross Crochet Lace Blouse

Hello! Happy November!

Things have been quite busy, and with the election yesterday, I was glued to the TV! I've been busy with lab and started writing my last chapter of my dissertation which will be submitted as a publication hopefully soon!

Since I am working at the computer mostly nowadays, I still want to look fashionable and cute, and I can wear cute pieces and not worry about them getting in the way or being uncomfortable in the lab! A pretty blouse with some light wash jeans and some booties is my go-to right now. I really love this Royal Blue Criss Cross Back Crochet Blouse I received from Shein.com, and I was obsessed with the lace detail! The top also has a really pretty crochet back detail, which you can see below. It is also very flowy, so perfect for those days I feel super bloated. This gave me the opportunity to wear something more form fitting on the lower part of my body, like these light wash jeans I bought from American Eagle Outfitters. The contrast of the dark blue top with the light blue of the denim was just classic! The top was comfy and soft, and it's definitely one of my staples this fall going into winter!

Bridesmaid Dress Shopping on a budget - Edressuk

Hello lovely people!
I can't believe how fast time is flying.
I have been super busy with lab trying to finish up my projects so I can defend my dissertation, but I had to redo a lot of experiments and I can't believe it's already November! This year flew by! I was hoping to be done by December but still have so much to do... but hopefully I will be done by this coming Spring quarter the latest!
In the Spring I have 2 different weddings coming up, friends getting married, and then in September my cousin is getting married in Cyprus also. So next year I have a total of 3 weddings to attend, one of which I will be a bridesmaid.
When I went home for another wedding this past September, we went dress shopping with my friend Angela, the bride, and we tried on various styles of dresses, various colors, and we decided on a palette of light purple/lilac colors and chiffon style dresses. It was a tough choice because there were a LOT of dresses to choose from, every girl had a different body type, whatever it was, you name it!
And then you look at the prices... As a grad student on a budget, I reallyyyyyy didn't want to (nor did I have the funds to) drop 200$ on a dress I will wear once at a wedding! When you are living on a grad student budget where your rent is 65% of your stipend, every single dollar matters!

#FWLA - Shop the Runway!

Hey guys!
Sorry for my disappearance here, I have been so stressed out with lab work and trying to finish up my project so I can finally defend my thesis, but I do have a lot of blog things in the works, including more youtube videos (continuing my Grad School series as well as more tutorials and reviews) in addition to more travel Diary and outfit looks and collaborations!! So I haven't forgotten, I just haven't had much time to sleep!! I am also planning a couple of really cool trips so stay tuned and updated with whats going on!!
If you want to check out my daily goings on, I am posting daily to Instagram, so go give me a follow over there!!

I got invited to Fashion Week LA (FWLA) by Fi from the Nifty Fashion App, and I had mixed up the days... for some reason I thought today was the 16th, so when I looked at the invite, I was thinking its tomorrow and Wednesday, then I realized, shit, thats today!
I am currently running lots of samples in lab so I am unable to make it downtown to the Fashion Runway event, but I am going to be watching it live streaming here on the blog!! Someone I know has a friend who is presenting her collection today so I am really excited!

Cat Eye Liquid Liner Tutorial - YouTube Video

Happy weekend!

After much request over on Instagram, here is a new video tutorial of how I do my cat eye liner look.

Check it out and let me know your thoughts! There is a list of the products used over on the actual youtube video, so click thru and watch and leave me some comments or questions, or requests for new tutorials and videos!

Have a great weekend!

xo

Andrea

Fashion and Fitness - Couch to 5K with Boohoo!

Happy Monday!
Mondays are always a good day to start a new page in your fitness and health journey! Whenever I start a new training program, I always start on a Monday! If you haven't already noticed from my previous posts, I've been so into working out and living a healthy lifestyle lately. I literally have been living in my gym clothes, to the point where I have been wearing my workout leggings to work, because they are so comfy! When I did my laundry, I noticed 95% of my dirty clothes were all workout gear!! So I was really excited when I got the opportunity to check out another line of new workout clothing from BoohooFIT!
I was so excited when I received my items, a whole outfit that included a sports bra, top, and workout leggings for less than  £30 (about $30)! Can you believe that?! I ordered the Saskia Rainbow elastic hem sports bra (HERE), the Malkah Neon highlight sports running leggings in pink/orange (HERE) and the Lara Fit Sweat Squad Running Vest (HERE). The shirt I LOVED the quote, I've been really into cute quote shirts, and I didn't realize that the back had a cute strap running up the back - and it's cut like a muscle tee, so you really have to wear something underneath it (like the sports bra!). The running leggings were so soft and comfortable! They were super flexible. The sports bra had enough support for me which is what I needed, and a cute rainbow band that I just loved! I loved the way the outfit looked and the bra peeked from underneath!

Travel Diary Part 2 - Having a nice time in Nice, France

Hello!
I am back with Part 2 of my Travel Diary from my recent Euro trip and conference! This time I am talking and sharing about my travels to Nice, in the South of France, after the conference was over!
It has been on my list for some time to travel to the south of France. I had read article after article, photo after photo, about how wonderful and beautiful the beaches are in south France. I had always wanted to go to Nice/Monaco/St Tropez, but never did I think I would go so soon!
After my second year of grad school, I told myself when I graduate, I'm going to go on a euro trip for 6 weeks, and Nice, France was one of my top destinations. When I had the opportunity to go to Portugal for the conference, I said why not extend my trip and check out another city! I knew I wanted to go to France, but I wasn't sure if I should go by myself or not. I ended up convincing my friend to meet me there, and so off I went, to Nice for 3 days before my friend was to meet up with me, and we were going to then drive down the coast to St. Tropez and then take a train to Paris! It was like a dream come true!
One of the fun parts of being in France after the conference in June was that the Euro 2016 Football (Soccer) cup was going on, hosted IN France! It was soo much fun and the atmosphere was electrifying! There were fan zones set up in each city, and I found the fan zones when I was exploring around! The fan zone was basically a place to go watch the games on a super large screen, with lots of screaming fans, and there were little kiosks for food and beer - lots of entertainment. It would get really hot during the day, so at times it was scorching hot so I made sure to keep hydrated, and I had so much fun, even though I was alone. I was in Nice during the games that were hosted in Nice, in particular England was playing Iceland, and all of the English fans came to Nice just for the game, so the atmosphere was very cool. Unfortunately England lost, but it was still fun to be around!

Fashion and Fitness - My cheap therapy

Lately, if you have been following me on Instagram, you have been probably hearing about how I've been really stressed out. Partly the reason why I hadn't been posting as much in the recent months, because life got really out of hand. I got really stressed out, anxious, my project completely changed direction and I thought I would be ready to defend my thesis by the end of the summer, walked at graduation, and now my plans are completely different (or at least delayed).
I guess everything happens for a reason. I didn't get the job I interviewed for (the one that I thought was my perfect match, guess it wasn't so perfect after all), I started getting contradicting (but good I guess) results, I got a dissertation year fellowship, so the fact that all of my Plan A's didn't work out, my Plan B is coming in handy now, even though I didn't appreciate it at first; so now I don't have to worry about TAing while trying to figure out the jumble of confusion that is my life right now.
And while things haven't been working the way I planned (Oh science, that's how you must be, right?), the one thing I HAVE been able to control is my exercise and health routine. I gained some weight from losing my work out momentum, stress, eating whatever I wanted, and I fell back into the stress and anxiety routine I worked so hard to get over. I referred back to my health and fitness community over on facebook and I refound my inspiration. I started a workout program that's available for free on the Beachbody On Demand that I subscribe to, and with the help of 2 other amazing ladies, we are keeping ourselves accountable for getting the workouts done - as in, we have a group chat going and we each message the others when we are pressing play on our workouts and get it done! It has really helped me manage my stress and anxiety and really helped me make time for myself. I have started regarding working out as "Me" time, and a meeting I make with myself, and I'm not allowed to skip it, just as I wouldn't skip a work meeting, etc. While I have been struggling a little still, I am doing a lot better with managing my stress. I am obsessed with my new life style, when I have a rest day, I am just itching to get back to working out!

Beach Chic Essentials - Don't want summer to end!

Hello!
Today I'm bringing you a "Beach Chic Essentials" post, where I'm talking about pieces that I'd wear to the beach! I am totally missing the beaches of Nice and Southern France, I had such a good time (photos to be shared in part II of travel diary coming next post!).

Beach Chic Essentials 

Things I Currently Adore...and a review of my Current Makeup Products

Happy Happy Friday!
I'm so glad it's the weekend!
I'm in dire need of a few days off to relax, lab work has been insane and so busy.
Thought I would put together a post about the current products are my go-to and what I am obsessed with.
I recently had to buy more makeup, but I couldn't afford the hefty price tag of my high end products from Sephora, like my Smashbox CC cream, Dior and Bare Minerals Mascara, or my Urban Decay Palettes, so I had to settle for some cheaper options for my every day looks. I am saving my more expensive makeup for special occasions! See my reviews below and a comparison!
Here's the look from a day in Paris visiting the Eiffel Tower! Photos to come next week for the next parts of my travel diary!

Travel Diary - Part I - Lisbon, Portugal - Conference and Sightseeing

Today I bring you Part I of my Travel Diary, Conference and Sightseeing in Lisbon, Portugal!

I was given the opportunity to attend a Biological Methylation Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, where I was able to meet the experts in the field, whose papers and publications I have been reading since I started graduate school! It was such a great experience, and it was 5 days full of science, all directly related to my field of work! I've been to other conferences, that were more broad and general, and I didn't enjoy them as much as I enjoyed this conference! I was just putting up my poster during the first session (my session was the second one) and I got stopped immediately and was talking about my research the whole two hours, and then the whole two hours at my actual session! It was such a great feeling to have people who knew about my research and were genuinely interested - talking science for 4 hours and getting so many good ideas of things to try! I even won the poster award, along with a travel award, which gave me some funding to help with my travel expenses!

Traveling to conferences is a BIG thing I would suggest to anyone who is in grad school. I have taken advantage of conferences to feed my travel bug, and it has opened up so many doors and networking opportunities! And if your boss/advisor can pay for you, it is a free ticket to travel (most of the time!). I have always taken advantage of vacation time after the conferences I've been to - Like last year I was in Barcelona for a conference and I traveled to visit my family in Cyprus afterwards, and this year I traveled to France after! So definitely a way to enjoy your time by having an international conference and using it as an excuse to travel around! Of course, any travel after a conference is on your dime, but compared to the full price of a plane ticket TO europe, its not too bad :) and I had some savings that I put aside especially for a european trip that I utilized to pay for this trip! It was amazing, because after I passed my candidacy exam, I told myself, when I graduate, I'm going to travel around europe, and I made a list of all of these cities I wanted to visit, and I made part of it happen! Graduation happened and I got to check off a few cities (not all of them, but a few is better than none!).

Scroll down to read more about the various photos I took (all with my iPhone 6!! Amazing camera for a phone!).

The conference even organized a wine tasting tour in the Marfa province, which was about a 45 min drive from where the conference was being held, and it was really great drinking wine in the countryside with professors and experts in my field! It was unreal and like a dream!

Episode 3 - Survival Guide to Grad School - 6 Tips on Surviving First Year!

Happy Weekend!

Today I'm bringing you the third episode in my "Survival Guide to Grad School" Series - this time I'm talking about 6 Tips to get through First Year!

First year was tough for me - from moving across the country away from my family and friends, to finally getting serious about research while taking classes and TAing... it can become a lot! So take some of my tips if you are in a grad program (or thinking about it), and save your sanity by learning from my mistakes!

Are there any other tips you have from when you went through grad school that you wish someone told you sooner?

Do you have any ideas for topics I should discuss next or any ideas for what you want to see next?
I'm really trying to produce more YouTube videos, so do let me know and if you fancy, subscribe to my channel to be updated when a new video posts! I will be doing some makeup looks next also :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

xo

Andrea

Going Out/Conference Formal/Social outing Look - Recycling Pieces to make the most of your Wardrobe

Happy Monday!

Today I'm bringing you a new outfit post featuring recycled pieces that you might have seen on the blog before (Ie. in this holiday outfit post HERE). Since I've spent a lot of traveling lately, my bank account is crying right now... so I decided to recycle pieces to create a whole different look!
In this outfit, I wore the bright red lace top I featured  before, with a black bandage mini skirt from Topshop from a few years ago! The outfit was simple and I wore my favorite Nine West heels that I have worn at conferences and are comfy enough to wear for a few hours. This is an outfit you can wear to a conference social (I wouldn't wear this to give a talk, but for getting drinks after the conference is over, I think it's fine!).
The accessories make the outfit shine, and I am rewearing one of my favorite bracelets, the Tassel Bracelet from the Yayoi Collection from Boyajian Trend Gallery, and a rhinestone bracelet from H&M I believe (given to me by my friend Samira!).
I used my little black pocketbook that doubles as a wallet from Express. and I curled my hair using my flat iron. If you are paying attention to my social media, I did cut my hair recently, so this was taken before I cut my hair (and I'm missing my long hair! T_T), but I will have some tutorials soon about styling short hair for the lab!
The best thing about this outfit? I didn't spend a dime, and I created a somewhat different look/look for a different occasion.

Ole Henriksen VoxBox Review - Youtube video!

I'm finally back with a new post! Sorry for being MIA the last few weeks - but I have been active over on my social media, so if you aren't following me yet over on Instagram or Snapchat -- go do it now! I post daily over there!
Life has been so crazy lately, with TAing this Spring quarter, interviewing, graduation, my family visiting, attending a scientific conference in Portugal, traveling to France, and then trying to finish up a paper (one of the final chapters of my dissertation!), so I apologize!
But I am trying to get back a work/life balance and getting back to my blogging! I will hopefully be shooting some outfits this weekend, so I will be bringing you more posts!
I am also trying to get back into making YouTube videos, so go check out my channel and subscribe!

Today's post, I bring you a video review of some skin care products by Ole Henriksen I received through the Influencer App Voxbox! Since I was traveling and anything and everything I wanted, my skin was super upset at me, haha! Traveling, different weather conditions, drinking 3-5 coffees a day, irregular sleep schedule, jet lag, you name it, my whole routine was out of whack! It's amazing how your skin can react!

View the video below, and let me know if you have used any of these products before, if they've worked for you, or if you have used any other products that worked well!

(Isn't my thumbnail so flattering?! :D hahaha!)

Do let me know your thoughts about my first real youtube review below, and let me know if you prefer video or text post reviews!! I'm curious!

Take it easy!

Until next time,

Andrea

xo

* I was sent these products from Influenster Voxbox, but this does not affect my honest opinion on the products, opinions are 100% mine! *

I'm a Dr - PhD (Almost!) Graduation

Hey loves!
Sorry for the lack of posts this month but I am back! I've been so crazy busy with the end of TAing (finally finished grading and entered in my grades!), graduation, family visiting, doing research, and getting ready for an international conference that I'm leaving for tomorrow!
I'm so excited for the conference, I get to finally meet the experts in my field that I read their research papers all the time, and I get to be in an amazing location (secret right now, check my instagram for the reveal!!) , and I am traveling also afterwards (again, check my instagram to figure out where I'm going!).
My parents came for graduation, and I found out I won a dissertation research award at graduation, and I also won the dissertation year fellowship, which will give me funding for the next year if I choose to stay longer.... so I am "graduated" but not done completely yet!
Graduation was a great day, it was cloudy so I was worried it would rain, but it ended up being perfect weather and great lighting for photos. I expected to be more emotional about graduation but I think because I'm not technically 100% done, I was just plain happy to be celebrated. Such a wonderful and happy milestone, so much hard work and tears.

Midweek Celebration - Mia Rosa wine

Since I finished my first interview, and my best friend in grad school also had her first interview, we decided to celebrate by drinking some wine as a little midweek break. We both have been super stressed out with trying to balance life, research, teaching, career development, interviews, and writing our dissertations (or thinking about writing, lol).

I was contacted by Mia Rosa Wines to try two of their dessert wines, and I said, why not, and this was the perfect opportunity to try them (Yes we finished both bottles in one sitting, but we took it slow and over the course of a few hours of chatting... Oh and they are both low alcohol percentage wine so you can drink it mid day with lunch or what not and not feel 'drunk').

Mia Rosa Wines are bottled and imported from Gattinara, Italy, but the company that imports and distributes the wine is local, based in Glendale, California. So this is a definite SoCal brand, and I love supporting local businesses!

I love Moscatos, my go to wine is white, and I'm not really a red wine girl. I didn't know what to expect with their red, but it ended up being very enjoyable and not very dry as I expected!

First up, the Mia Rosa Moscato White:

This wine was a little fizzy and bubbly at first sip, and it was very delicious and sweet! It had a very clean finish, and the taste didn't linger. I could taste flavors of apple, cantalope, peach, pear - it was very tasty! At 5.5% Alcohol by volume, I easily drank 2-3 glasses without feeling much! Easily a very nice wine to go to after a meal when you aren't ready for a rather wild night, and pairs easily with dessert, cheeses, or I even thought it would pair well with Thai food or other kinds of spicy food - the sweetness is a good level to counterbalance spice!

Next, the Mia Rosa Dolce Rosso Red: 

This wine was also fizzy and bubbly at first sip, and it was a rather tasty red! It wasn't dry like other reds I have tasted, which I think made it more enjoyable for me. I could taste lots of flavors of berry - raspberries, red berry among others. Again, there is only 5.5% Alcohol by volume, so it is a nice light wine to enjoy during the day. I would pair this wine with some yummy dark chocolate (girls + wine + chocolate, perfect!), and maybe some fresh fruit.

Interview Outfit - The Real World seems pretty sweet!

I am in shock that it is almost the end of May! This year is literally flying by, and I can't believe it is almost the end of my 5th year and graduation is in 3 weeks!
I recently had my first interview for a job/post doc after grad school and it was a surreal experience. I have gotten thru three rounds of interviews for the position, and now it is just a waiting game to see if I get an offer! *fingers crossed*
It was awesome to realize I actually am good enough and qualified for the real world. When you are so swamped in your work in graduate school you tend to forget that a real world exists outside! This year has been so difficult and stressful for me, work wise and I think knowing that an end is near has really helped me not stress out so much about the little things! It's all about how you manage stress, and really putting things in perspective. This has really helped me deal with things soooo much better!
Anyway, here is an outfit I had been meaning to post for two weeks now and I am FINALLY getting around to it. This quarter has been so busy and I have barely found time to do anything for myself, and since I finished my workout program at the beginning of the month I kinda fell off track with meals and workouts these last two weeks. BUT! No more, I am getting back on track starting today, with my meals and workouts. I realized I need to make time for myself and I feel strongest and best when I get my workout in!
This is the outfit I wore to my first interview for a big girl job as a research post doc, and I wore this floral blouse my aunt sent me for my birthday (or christmas? for some holiday as a gift, lol), and these dress pants I recently bought from Express, their editor pant, that was a costly $79.99. I bought these at the beginning of April as a last resort because I really needed dress pants that fit for the San Diego conference I went to, and all of my old dress pants wouldnt button..... and so I had to buy a size 8 from Express, and they finally closed. I'm not too concerned with the sizes because every brand is different, so I'm not stressing about having to go up from a 4 to an 8.... Ok - so I wore these same pants at the beginning of April, and when I put them on 2 weeks ago after finishing my work out program and for my in person interview. THEY WERE LOOSE. Too loose! I could easily fit a finger or two at the waist and they weren't hugging my thighs anymore! WOW I was so excited (but sad at the same time, since they were a costly pair) that I am seeing some non-scale victory results, as I weighed myself and the number literally didn't budge. 

Channeling my inner Boss Lady - Tobi Jumpsuit - Part 3

Happy Friday loves!!!
I'm so glad this week is almost over, I've been a stressball all week, dealing with research, teaching, preparing for an interview next week, you name it, I haven't slept much, but I'm feeling like a #Bosslady for how much I've been able to accomplish.
Today I'm bringing you my final outfit from Tobi.com, this really badass Anisha Midi Jumpsuit, which you can find HERE.
At first I was a little hesitant to request this item, but I thought why not, and step out of my comfort zone. I have not really worn or own many jumpsuits, but I wanted to give it a shot.
While I wasn't a big fan of how this looked on me, I still felt like a boss lady, and it made me feel powerful, especially with those stilettos that I bought from Charlotte Russe. I think what really attracted me to this jumpsuit was the cross back of it, with a lot of sexy back showing! I am a little uncomfortable showing this much cleavage, but I tried to rock it anyway! I paired it with this same necklace that I wore in the previous outfit, and it worked well! I also used a belt I had from Express to cinch the waist, it might also look good without a belt! The good thing about this jumpsuit is that its black so it can be paired with a lot of different pieces and statement pieces! It also cuts at the calf since it is a midi cut, which I don't think is the most flattering for me, but I am just being self conscious! For a taller girl it would be the perfect cut (I'm only 5' 2"...).

Coachella/Casual Inspired Look Part 2 - Tobi Skater Dress

Happy Hump Day!
So glad this week is flying by, so ready for the weekend again!
I have an important week next week coming up that I'm trying to prepare for (two interviews!) but I am trying to keep my cool!
Today I am bringing you another Coachella inspired Casual look from Tobi.com- can be worn to a festival or even just the lab - I think this pretty dress is super versatile and can be worn different ways! It was originally a dress - the Together Forever Skater Dress  in black! It was a really windy day so I decided to wear pants underneath to avoid any windy day mishaps if you catch my drift! But it can be worn by itself or as a longer shirt/tunic over pants or leggings! I like both styles! Wearing it with pants is a lot more appropriate for lab during the week, wearing as a dress is easier during the weekend, for example, going to brunch with friends!

Spring Inspiration - Coachella/Bridesmaid look ft Tobi Skater Dress

Spring is officially here - it is officially May, and I am astounded by how fast time is flying!
We are officially past the halfway point of the academic quarter, and I can't believe it is already May - graduation is next month and it's getting real!
Anyway, it was recently Coachella weekend, and I have always wanted to go a be a hippy child - all of the style inspiration I see from Coachella is so floaty and happy - I wanted to channel some looks this week to bring in Spring officially to the blog, so I am bringing you a 3 part series this week!
I wore this really pretty Tobi.com dress - the Not too busy Dress, found HERE. I really loved the blush pink shade of the dress, and I really adored the off the shoulder sleeves! It was too cute! At first when I saw the dress I was like oh wow way too short, but once I put it on, it was the perfect length!
I decided to pair the outfit with some simple gold sandals, and a floral headpiece I received as a gift from my boyfriend's aunt in Jordan (the country) and the look was complete! I really am in love with this look! It can also serve as a really cute bridesmaid/wedding party look - especially with the flower bouquet - no I am not engaged, but thought the bouquet would be a really cute addition!

Co-chairing a Symposium - Conference Fashion

Hello loves!
I am back with a Conference outfit post!
Sorry for lack of outfit posts, I've been SO scatter brained and swamped since the beginning of the month - I went to a conference in San Diego that I talked about previously, and I co-chaired a Grad Student and Postdoc led session, where I was able to invite two key speakers and selected from the abstracts for student presentations. This is the outfit I wore, it was perfect amount of formal and dressy while still a little casual for drinks for the reception afterward!
I've been a teaching assistant since the beginning of the month and it has been a little (A LOT) stressful, since it has cut up my free time that I can work in the lab. My Tuesday/Thursdays are teaching days, and I have a lot of other commitments such as organizations and other groups I am involved in, so most days I don't find a chance to even sit at my computer! I've been so stressed that I barely find time to sleep nowadays. I'm dreaming of a vacation where I can completely unplug from the world and just relax!
This shirt I received from my aunt as a gift, from Cyprus, the pants are dress pants from New York and Company, simple black heels from Nine West that I've had in my closet, and my large tote back is from Zara.

Episode 2: How to deal with Finances and Giveaway Winner

Happy Tuesday!

Today I bring you Episode 2 of my new Youtube Series, PhD Fashionista's Survival Guide to Grad School, and I'm talking about dealing with finances. I've struggled living in LA on a grad student stipend, but I've made it work! Check out the video for some tips, and let me know if you have any comments or additional tips for how you made it work!

And Finally I selected a Flowerbomb Perfume Giveaway winner randomly from the entries - Congrats to Sarah Klein! I have sent you an email!!

Thanks to everyone who entered, stay tuned for another giveaway soon!

Have a great rest of your week and I will be back with an outfit post on Friday!

xoxo

Andrea

Conferencing it up - Poster Presentation Outfit

Hey loves!

Hello from San Diego! 

It is officially conference time at the ASBMB meeting, and yesterday I presented my poster and talked some science! I have been attending various talks and workshops all weekend, and it has been a really great experience thus far! I have been on the go since Friday, and my plans were to blog each day, but after a long day at the conference center listening to talks, I get back to the hotel and collapse on my bed! I have been chronicling my day to day outfits on my instagram (go follow me there, @phd_fashionista, to keep up to date), but I thought I would actually write a post about my outfit for the poster presentation today! 

I wore this pretty patterned top/blouse that I got from Express, and I paired it with black dress pants I also bought from Express, called the Editor, I really like the flattering cut of the pants! I tried on a pair of their ankle dress pants and with my body/legs, they actually made me look even shorter! So a bootcut pant is definitely my friend! 

I paired the outfit with the same comfy Nine West heels that I have worn in other outfits (and to be honest they have been worn into the ground, time for a new pair soon!), and some simple accessories. My necklace was a birthday gift from a great friend, Dina from Leafandcrown.com, she hand laser cut the necklace as a part of her new zodiac collection! How cool is that?! my friends are so talented! And I also used my black tote bag from Zara, I love how chic it looks and it is big enough to fit a lot of my things! 

I'm a huge fan of wall art, so when I saw this wall I had to take a photo in front of it!

Episode 1: How to deal with Stress and Anxiety, PhD Fashionista's Survival Guide to Grad School

Hey guys!

Hope everyone is having a good week so far! The quarter started on Monday and I'm a Teaching Assistant on top of doing research, so it will be a very busy quarter!
I'm preparing a bunch of conference fashion posts to be posting for the conference I'm attending this weekend/next week, and I will be trying to blog every day of the conference, so be on the lookout for those posts!

But first, I want to post my first episode for my Youtube Series: Phd Fashionista's Survival Guide to Grad School: How to deal with Stress and Anxiety.

It is really putting myself out there and talking about something personal I've dealt with, but I find it rarely talked about and so hush-hush, so I am restarting the conversation. Hope this can help even just one person, it will all be worth it!<3 br="">



Don't forget to subscribe to my channel to get email updates for new episodes!

I would love to hear your comments about this topic, what you think about the videos, and any other topics you would like to hear discussed!

Have a wonderful rest of your week!

xoxo

Andrea

PS. Winner of the Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb perfume giveaway will be announced as soon as I can check thru all of the entries!

Fashion and Fitness - 8 ways to keep your cool and Stretch the stress away

Hello loves!
Happy Friday!
Another week down, another week closer to summer and being done!
I have alluded in previous posts and if you have been following me on instagram that I've been focusing a lot on self care, which is done by working on my nutrition and fitness!
This past fall I fell into a negative spiral where I was so stressed out, super overwhelmed, things weren't working on my projects, I had month-long headaches and migraines, and it just overall sucked. I was working 12 hour days but I didn't feel like I was progressing, I wasn't sleeping enough, and I didn't have time to relax or workout. Come December, I decided to change that, because I couldn't continue living in that same state. I also hit my heaviest weight. I needed to change something. I decided to start focusing on myself, so I can refind myself and I can actually be productive in work.
After months of contemplation to invest in a program, I committed to doing a Beachbody workout and nutrition program called 21 Day Fix, perfect for a beginner, thanks to a friend who is a coach and recommended it to me, and it was the best decision I made. All of a sudden I had a structured meal plan and workout program that I could do the workouts in 30 minutes a day, and really had no excuses not to stick to it, especially since I invested in it. The coaching and free accountability group/community I became a part of was a great plus, and I believe is the difference between sticking to a program and just buying it and leaving it to the side. Being in a community with other women who were making a huge effort to lose weight, change their health habits, was so inspiring. I lost 4 lbs in my first round and about 7.5 inches in 21 days. That's only 3 weeks!! And I also noticed my headaches were gone, I wasn't getting a migraine when I felt stressed. I saw a change in my skin, it cleared up, my bloating went down, and my stomach felt better. I realized I inadvertently cut out cheese and milk from my diet, and it make a wonderful difference. I found out I am to a degree lactose intolerant! I also found that I feel so much better and I actually enjoy cooking food! I cut out all processed foods, which has helped me regulate my body, and I am saving money since I have a focused meal plan and grocery list. I always would over buy lots of groceries and I would end up spending 100$+ a week on groceries and end up eating out most of the week. Sticking with this easy meal plan has helped me stay on track and save money! In addition I started having a superfoods shake to my meal plan, and I add some greens and fruits to it, super yummy and I get a lot of my nutrients in for the day! It has also curbed my sweet tooth quite a bit, and it has some protein, so perfect to drink for breakfast or snack after a workout!
I loved 21 Day Fix so much I decided to up it a little bit and I did my next 21 days using 21 Day Fix Extreme, which was similar to the regular fix, but the workouts were, like the title, a little more extreme! I saw even better results following this plan, I definitely lost some body fat and leaned out!
And currently, I am following the 22 Minute HardCorp program, which is an 8 week bootcamp style program that was just released! Tony Horton, who created P90X which you may have heard of, designed this bootcamp style program that can be done in 22 minutes! Literally, my soulmate workout, because I don't have a lot of time, so it is quick and done, and it hits all the muscle groups. It alternates between resistance and cardio, and I have definitely leaned out and I am just in week 3! I can't wait to see my body change and see my results by the end of 8 weeks (brings me to end of April! time is flying, it is almost summer!)
If you are interested in doing a program then send me an email (andrea@phdfashionista.com) and we can chat about your goals! I'd love to share what has worked for me and hopefully it can help you! You can also check out the options for On Demand Access at this link: www.tinyurl.com/workoutwithLCLD

Well, anyway, I also wanted to share this really cute Fabletics outfit that I love, I really really love all of the pieces in the Fabletics collection, especially bright pieces. And I love these bright neon pink sneakers from Nike! No one said working out had to be boring, there are so many brands out there with really fashionable pieces!

Here is a simple stretching workout to do when you are feeling tense and want to stretch the stress away! I found yoga, meditation and just stretching really help me when I am feeling really tense.


1. Runners Lunge - Stretch out your hips and hamstrings by coming into a runners lunge!

PhD Fashionista's Survival Guide to Grad School

Hey Loves!
Sorry it's been some time since my last outfit post, I do have outfits I need to post about, but I've just been swamped lately with school work and not having enough time to do anything!
I have a bunch of projects I am working on - I am heading to a conference in San Diego that I am preparing some Conference Fashion posts, and I will hopefully be blogging fashion during the conference also. I am also working on some fitness posts, that will be up soon also!

BUT! I am finally proud to announce that I kicked my butt into gear and FINALLY got around to starting this youtube series I have wanted to start since Summer, a Survival Guide to Grad School. I will be talking about various issues graduate students encounter, and this is the first intro video in the series - but I will be posting a video a week! These aren't issues just exclusive to grad students but also to life, so if you have anything you want me to talk about, do leave a comment!  Would love to hear some feedback also!






I would love it if you would SUBSCRIBE to my Channel!

Also, I am always active on Instagram right now, mainly because I am always on the go - so definitely check out my posts there if you want some more fashion inspiration (I have recently been posting my daily outfits that I don't get a chance to photograph for the blog!
Follow me on Instagram @phd_fashionista

And lastly, my giveaway is still running, so do check it out and enter to win the Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb full size perfume! It will be running until THIS FRIDAY - so go and enter!!

Enter the giveaway here


Hope you have a wonderful week ahead, and I will be posting again this week!

xoxo

Andrea

Happy Friday - TGIF and Perfume Giveaway!

Happy Friday loves!

I'm soo soo glad it is Friday! TGIF. It's been a long and stressful week in lab, and I am just exhausted. I haven't had time to prepare my outfit post but an outfit post will be up next week!
I have been so busy with trying to wrap up experiments so I can start writing my dissertation and papers, but there's so much data and information to sift through, and so much to still do, it is a little overwhelming, and I am having a hard time balancing everything while still trying to take care of myself.

Well, I hit a milestone for my blog, I finally hit 1000 followers on instagram!!! It is a great accomplishment, and I hope to hit more milestones soon!

Spring has Sprung - Happy Friday!

Hello and Happy Friday!
I can't believe it is already March! This year is flying by already, and it will be summer before we know it!
I've been pretty busy the last few weeks with work and trying to figure out the last things I need to do before I graduate, and I have a never ending to-do list, and soooo many things going on, it has been hard to find time to blog! But I am still around, never fear! I am posting to instagram daily, so if you are ever wondering what I'm up to, follow me there :) My golden birthday came last week, and I had a great time celebrating with friends, and alsoI went to the Vanity Fair Social Club event for the Oscars, so it was fun and I got some free goodies which I will blog about soon :)
School has been super stressful and I have felt overwhelmed at times, but I need to start taking it one day at a time :)
I've been trying to come up with outfits that are work appropriate, as I am trying to focus really on professional dress. I got this blouse from a birthday care package from my aunt in Cyprus for my Birthday, and I love it! I love the color and I love the patterns! It also is pretty flattering, and it shows a little cleavage without being over exposed, which I loved! I never feel too comfortable with cleavage, and I was worried this top would be too much - but it was just right! I have been wearing leggings mostly to work - as I spend a lot of time running around lab some days, and some days I'm sitting at my desk the whole time - and jeans aren't as comfy! So this is a usual outfit you will find me in, something stylish and comfy! Matched with these sketchers heeled sneakers that I have worn before! I paired this pretty statement necklace from Minu Jewels, the Botswana Agate necklace! So gorgeous!

Simple Chic work outfit - and a JazzyKreationz Statement Necklace

Hello!
Happy Friday!
Another week, another post! What a busy crazy week it has been, and its only been a 4 day week, with the day off on Monday!
The weather in LA has also been a little crazy, cold, then warming back up into the 80s/90s, to rain, to back to warm... what is this!? I would expect this weather from back home in MA but not in SoCal! Though I can't say I didnt love the rain!! I'm so excited for the weekend to relax and recharge, it has been a really busy week running around to different obligations and experiments/gathering some really great data!
Here is a simple chic outfit I wore to work, featuring the Brown-gold statement necklace, that is a handmade statement necklace from JazzyKreationz - a handmade and customizable necklace and jewelry store I discovered on instagram! This necklace is so simple yet so chic - I love the beaded pattern and detail! It definitely steals the spotlight from the rest of the outfit, which I kept simple to focus on this necklace! I also love the colors, perfect for a conference or simple outfit, have it be the focal point! I got a lot of compliments on this outfit and necklace, so I am so happy with it! Definitely check out Jazzy's store and see her other "kreationz!" She can customize a necklace or make one to order, so if there is something in mind that you want, definitely let her know! I love the other necklaces she makes as well, they are super chic!
I just wore a simple white t-shirt with a sparkly cardigan from a local store, along with my YMI jeans and ankle boots from Target! This is one of my go-to outfits since it is so simple and can be paired with a nice statement necklace to really add some style!

Makeup Monday: Vice 4 Makeup Tutorial, My Valentine's Day look

Hello!

Today I'm showing you another subtle look I created using my Vice 4 palette, this time for valentine's day! It is very similar to the one I showed you last week, but this one has a pop of pink, that is subtle but still super pretty for Valentine's Day!

I spent the weekend relaxing and unplugging from work. I had a great time spending the weekend with friends, having lots of good laughs playing Cards against Humanity, and spending valentines with my boy. Today is a holiday so I took it off and spent it doing things that I haven't had time for, like working on blog posts, watching tv, catching up on skype with my cousins, scrolling on instagram and creating new posts, and more. 

It's nice, and I'm about to head to the beach by myself to catch the sunset and just relax. It's nice to have others to go with but sometimes you just need some alone time!

Here is the look:

All you need is love - Valentines or "Gal-entines" outfit

Happy Valentines Day (soon!) loves!
I've been so crazy busy and overwhelmed these last few weeks, as I have been saying over and over again, and I haven't really been able to do a proper outfit post. What better event for an outfit than Valentines Day? I hadn't been able to go shopping lately because of finances and trying to save money, so I had to dig through my closet for something new that I haven't worn in a while! Life of a grad student - shopping in your own closet!
This is a body con dress that I got from Asos years ago, it must be from 2010? I think I saw another blogger wear it and it inspired me to buy it. I havent really worn it because of the open back and the body con style, it really hugs every curve, and since I felt like I gained some weight recently, I wasn't comfortable to wear it. But with my new fitness journey, I feel more comfortable in my body and I lost some weight, so I felt great in it. Of course, sometimes you can see a pooch, but I challenge YOU to wear a body con! haha!
I took these photos at the "Love Wall" in Culver City, and it was the perfect back drop for a Valentines post!
I love this dress, i particularly love the neckline with the crotched lace! For accessories I just wore my Nine West black heels, a black clutch/purse from Express that I got over Christmas, and my Boyajian Trend Gallery Yayoi Collection Tassel bracelet.

Vice 4 Makeup Tutorial: Metallics

Happy Friday!

I'm so glad almost the weekend!

I've had a busy stressful week, and I'm finding myself start falling back into my old ways from last quarter. I am trying so hard to STOP that! I can't go back to how I was feeling last quarter. So I am taking this weekend to relax and chill.

Here is a makeup look I created with my new Urban Decay Vice 4 palette I got as a Christmas gift from my mom!  I really like the pigments in all of the Vice palettes, so I was super excited to try the newest limited edition palette! I created a metallic shimmery look that you can wear on the daily but also dress it up to go out at night! 

Malibu and Glam Necklace - weekend relaxing

Hello!
Happy Monday and happy February! I can't believe it is already the first of the month! January flew by!
I've been super busy with lab work and some outside things I am involved with, which is great because it gives me more of a work-life balance. I've been trying to leave lab at a reasonable time so I can have enough time to relax and workout when I get home. So far so good, and my stress levels are much lower!
I'm also working on rebranding my blog a little bit, adding a fitness aspect to it, because fitness and health has become a big aspect of my life recently, ever since I decided I needed to take care of myself. I am hoping to start writing some blogposts about lifestyle, fitness and health, and also start a youtube channel as well. I have been doing a beachbody program called 21 day fix and I saw results in 21 days, and I feel sooo much better - no more headaches or migraines! I am trying to help people as well so I signed up to be a coach, so if you are interested in doing a program with me, send me an email, I'd love to forward you some info on the program and have you join the challenge group that is starting next monday February 8!! I've started surrounding myself with a lot of positivity in this group, everyone is so great and posts every day to stay accountable, its exactly what I need right now.

Valentine's Night Out on the Town

Hello!
I have been super stretched out lately due to overload of work and starting the last 6-9 months of my PhD (!!!!), so I haven't had a chance to shoot some outfits, but more will be coming soon. Since it is almost end of January (!!! how is time flying so fast?!?), I decided to do a post on my Valentine's Outfit that I am planning - the boy hasn't said anything about plans yet but who doesn't love shopping for new dresses! We don't usually do anything big other than go to dinner sometimes the weekend after, but I'm going to suggest we do something a little bigger this year.

I was inspired by the glam feel of San Francisco Fairmont Hotel - I've only been to San Francisco once before, but I would love to go back and go out to dinner at one of the chic upscale restaurants in the district or at a fancy hotel! If you are looking for great hotels in San Francisco, do check it out and let me know what you think!
I came up with two outfits that I could wear based on my mood and what kind of vibe I wanted to give - both I think are romantic and super stylish, but whether I was feeling like a bad ass (top) or more romantic (bottom), I could choose. I know its cliche to wear red on Valentine's, but I'm in love with burgundy for February. It is a color that I think I look good in.
For bad ass chic (top): I went with a flowy sleeved dress that is super boho and clean. Silver accessories like a necklace and a black bag and heeled boots complete the outfit look. I'm also feeling floppy hats, even though it'll be evening, why not? I've seen people wearing them inside and if we do something before earlier in the afternoon evening, why not wear to dinner? And as far as makeup, I love a classy cat eye with some glitter glam, and some burgundy red lips! So perfect! My favorite burgundy lipstick is a shade from Hikari that I love, so I would totally wear that!

Valentine's Night Out on the Town 

Winter Wonderland - Winter 2016 Fashion Trends

Happy weekend!
I can't believe it is already the middle of January! 2016 is already flying by!
We have had some rainstorms here in California because of El Nino, and it has been a little refreshing. The weather has also been a little cooler and chilly here, but not as bad as in the east coast and the midwest. I got a little taste of winter when I was home for the holidays, but got back to LA just in time for the cold and snow to hit the east coast!
I wanted to blog post about winter trends I have been seeing lots of bloggers rock this season - winter wonderland clothing!
I love love love light colors this season, like beige, white, and metallic! I have seen many a beige jacket and I really want to incorporate one into my wardrobe! I'm also digging ombre style sweaters, especially with lighter colors!
Metallic nails are also something I'm super into this season - I love silver as it reminds me of the holidays and winter!
And something I'm obsessed with now are scarves. I wish it was colder in LA so I could wear them more often. I love lighter patterns and also chunky knit ones! So cuddly and warm! Scarves definitely kept me warm while I was on the East Coast!

Winter Wonderland - Winter 2016 Fashion Trends by andreah227 featuring a beanie hat

Whimsical Ugly Sweater - Dreams and Flying with an old Top Shop Sweater

Hi everyone!
Sorry for lack of posts last week!
I have been super busy with work and working on keeping my stress level low - trying to work until normal people times and not stay in lab late unless absolutely necessary - and I think I was good about that! I am trying to not take any unplanned breaks throughout the day (unplanned as in getting sucked into my phone scrolling on instagram or facebook), and just getting everything done that I need to and not stress out about not finishing everything. I'm only human!
I have also started a workout and nutrition plan, called the 21 day fix, and I am using it as a platform to just get myself back into shape and back into the routine of working out and I can do the work outs at home (it beats going to the crowded gym right now) and also eating healthy (I noticed it has improved my headaches!). So I will probably post an update about my progress in 2 weeks (one week down, two more to go!). If you are interested in talking about your health goals, send me an email!
Well anyway, back to fashion. I thought this was a fun outfit that I decided to wear and the photoshoot was rather fun and silly. I bought this oversized rainbow sweater from Topshop when I was studying abroad in the UK like 5 years ago (another piece of clothing I haven't worn and has been sitting in my closet! I'm shopping for new outfits in my own closet!). It was super comfy and retained the warmth! I wore a plain black tank top underneath, and some black leggings along with my black Sketchers heeled sneakers, and it was the perfect outfit for chilling in lab and then just chilling at home while keeping warm during these chilly LA days!
I originally was going to wear this to an ugly sweater party, as it is kinda ugly, but it is still a little chic I think, if styled correctly!