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:

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

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!

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!

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!

New Year's Eve intentions - Setting goals for the New Year

Hi loves!

I can't believe it is the last day of 2015! This year has flown by! I had one of the best years but also one of the hardest of grad school I think, caused hitting a slump and really struggling to get thru the last couple of months because of stress and experiments gone wrong.

I traveled a lot this last year, I got to go to Boston for an amazing conference, Barcelona for another amazing conference and further growing my network, Cyprus to visit family, sequoia national park with the boy to relax and enjoy nature, and back to Boston to spend the holidays with family.

I am going to be sappy and say that I really struggled with stress the last 6 months. If I'm real with myself, it started in June when I really started to put a lot of pressure on myself to finish and advance two projects faster, and beating myself up when those projects didn't go as planned. I then went on my trip and didn't give myself any time to actually relax, as I felt I had to be productive every single day. And then when I got back, I went straight back into work mode and I was so stressed when many things went wrong (thanks, science!), my anxiety kicked in and I had lots of headaches, month long migraines, and weight gain (anxiety and stress kicks cortisol production into overdrive, leading to weight gain, in addition to working long hours, not making time for myself to work out which I love and not having time to cook healthy food). While I'm in no means fat or anything, I am unhappy with myself when I look in the mirror, and I think it stems from me not taking care of myself and not taking time to relax. I went to a neurologist and they gave me drugs for migraines, but after just resting during thanksgiving and Christmas, I noticed my migraines and headaches went away! For real! The second I started feeling stressed again I felt a headache coming on. That made me immediately tell myself relax etc. and it helped! It really shows that you have to take care of yourself! That is my number one goal and resolution this year!!!

September Fitness Challenge - Getting back on the workout grind!

Hello loves! happy September!
I really can't believe it is already September and the summer is basically over!
Today marks my 4 year anniversary of living in Los Angeles! Woo woo! How fast time is flying, it is a little scary!
Today I am bringing out a style board with some fitness outfits to give you some inspiration! I am putting in some more effort to work out 4-5 times a week, mainly to help deal with stress and anxiety with work, and to get back into shape! I used to work out 5 times a week and I was so fit! and then I fell off track the last year or so, and I miss it! I also realized I have to make time for myself, which is something I have been neglecting to do -- leading to more stress, so it is a vicious cycle!
I have been looking for new workout gear to wear, even though I already have a bunch, new workout clothes always inspire me and make me want to work out!
Here are some styles I have my eye on lately:

September Fitness Challenge - Getting back on the workout grind! 

Fun fitness Ideas

As a busy grad student, I don't always have the chance to go to the gym, especially here at UCLA where, now that the academic quarter has started, it is very busy and crowded.

When I'm done working a 12 hr day where I have just been running around all day, the last thing on my mind sometimes is working out (although I do feel guilty and wish I would just go to the gym), but dinner and sleep sound more appealing since I have to be up and about early the next day to continue my experiments. 

How to fit in working out?

Here is what I do (and I wear cute gym clothes to help me feel fabulous and stylish while working out, I have posted about these before):

I try to work out on the weekends. Since I hope that I wont be in lab on the weekend (unless needed), I tend to go to a fitness class on Saturday Mornings or, if I would like to sleep in (as is the case now), I will go for a run around the UCLA campus or go lift some weights (some type of upper body combination, either biceps and back, or shoulders and abs, or triceps and chest; I pick a combination that I feel like working out and go with it! I add about 20-30 min of cardio at the end.

On Sundays, I tend to work on legs (my fav day of workout), where I go in the early afternoon where it isn't as busy, and I can easily find a squat rack. I do weighted squats, wide squats, lunges, deadlifts, hamstring curls, and other various leg exercises. And then I get on the stairmaster and do that for 15 minutes. Man, is it a workout, you are sweating within 10 minutes and already feeling sore! 

If I decide I want to be outside, the boyfriend and I have recently started biking to Santa Monica by the beach - we rented bikes last week and it was so fun, that we decided we were going to buy our own bikes! I ended up buying a bike on Saturday and I am in love! Went and took it for a test drive yesterday, rode a total of 20 miles round trip from my apartment down to Santa Monica by the beach down to Manhattan beach and back to my apartment in West LA. It was awesome, fun, and I was able to be out in the sun. And its a hidden workout, since it works your legs and gives you a serious calorie burn!!! I am so sore this morning! 

New Workout Gear!

So while I was in Cyprus I placed an order for new workout clothes from Gap.com! I am seriously in love with their workout gear! I ordered a new pair of workout capris, and I was in love with my heathered capris I bought a few months ago. I ordered these GapFit gFast heathered colorblock capris. Haven't tried them on yet but they seem so comfy! I next bought two GapFit graphic tanks. I am in love with this black and white one, I am currently wearing it! Super comfortable and it makes your waist look smaller because of the shapes and the black color block! And lastly, I bought a GapFit contrast headband to match my clothes, and it is useful as it keeps hair out of your face as you work out! 

I got 30% off which made it an even sweeter deal and free shipping over $50! 

Gap has sales ALL the time, they currently have one for 30% off and free shipping, and different days they have different percent off but it is always a deal! So if you visit one day and its not a big percent off, check again the next day! Definitely a good place to buy workout clothes, I recommend it! 

Random purchases!

Sorry I've been MIA this month! I am working on my Advancement to Candidacy Exam for my PhD program... It has been seriously one of the most stressful experiences ever! I'm super stressed all the time, so I haven't really had a chance to post anything. I have taken to working out as an outlet for my stress, which really helps! I bought some new workout gear from Gap.com, they have a really great line of clothes for fitness, called Gfit,which I love! and they are constantly having sales (I get emails daily about 25% off, 30% off, etc.) which I wish I could buy more things! I love their tanktops! (See below) and the workout capris! So comfortable! I really suggest buying them! I bought size small in all! :)
Since I haven't been doing much lab work, I don't have to put gloves on, so my nail polish won't get ruined! I painted my nails a hot pink color which glows in a blacklight (so cool!) and this pastel purple color that I received in my May Ipsy Glambag! I LOVE this color! and it hasn't chipped yet! I love it! I will post my review on my May Glambag once I have a chance!

Healthy goals!

So today marks the start of week 10 of my 12 week workout challenge I set up for myself. I just completed 9 weeks of working out 5 days a week, 2 days rest! It is amazing how you can start good habits! It started out only as a 6 week thing I wanted to do for myself, but since it became a habit, I decided to continue it for another 6 weeks. What I do is I log the workouts I do every day, it just makes it easier! Just writing it out on a piece of paper really helps! And knowing that if I don't work out today I will have to write "Rest day" on it, makes me work out so I can take another day off. :) I also started "eating clean," or more simply, eating healthy. I allow one "cheat" meal a week, so I can still indulge in unhealthy stuff every once in a while! I started packing my own lunches, making chicken for extra protein and veggies!! Healthy snacks with protein and fiber that will fill you up and avoid junk food! When I go grocery shopping I try not to buy chocolate or other unhealthy stuff; if its not available to you, you won't eat it! :D I've been trying to eat healthier for the last 2 weeks and I feel so much better, and I can tell it is helping my body out. I want my abs to come in, but no amount of ab exercises will do that.... abs are made in the kitchen, i.e. eat healthy and decrease body fat percentage! Sorry to go on my healthy exercise rant, but I wanted to write a post about it. Anyway, I received my new Nike Free TR III running sneakers in the post yesterday!! They are so cute! They are good for working out and running, minimal support so you can feel your lunges and squats better! I might still need support for running because of my knee, but I have another pair of sneakers I can wear for that. And they are so cute! And really comfortable! I love them! I can't wait to work out in them!

Shoes shoes shoes!

Ok so I went on a little bit of a shopping spree this weekend and I bought 2 new pairs of shoes... one pair for the gym, and one pair for every day.
A lot of people I know and my friends who go to the gym wear these Nike Free sneakers, and they say they are really comfortable for working out such as running and doing squats/lunges. There is minimal support and gives you a flat fit so you can feel your squats and various workouts in your legs better :)
I spotted these cute patterned Nikes, and they were on "sale" for 100 dollars... Worth it! So I ordered them from nike.com, and if you join their NikeID, you can get free shipping! Which was great. What wasn't great was the 9 dollars taxes I paid, thanks California! :(
These are the Nike Free TR III in White/Polarized Pink-Black-Atomic Teal :D
I got an email saying they were shipped today. :D can't wait to try them on and work out!

Obsessed with Victoria's Secret!!!

Ahhhh I've been obsessing over the victoria's secret website!
I am itching to buy a new swim suit (even tho I have a few!), and I also want to buy more work out clothes from them!!!
First, the swim suit is this, but in a different color, although I do like this color, its really pretty. I also really like the bottom, as it seems to be very flattering and sit low on the hips. I really like the detail on the top, and it does come with straps so you don't have to wear it strapless -- I hate wearing strapless swim suits! but that doesn't stop me from having the bandeau style! :)

February styles!

Aloha readers!
I went to Forever 21 today in Santa Monica and I bought a few goodies. Firstly, I bought this neon yellow work out shirt that I thought was really cute. I'm so into the bright workout gear, I need to invest in more brightly colored things for working out! Second, I bought this cheetah print top with mesh sleeves -- I thought it was really cute! And lastly I also bought this lacey crotchet top! I'm going to wear it underneath some brightly colored tank tops I received from Abercrombie! Super cute!