spring denim inspiration

I thought spring had sprung here, but I woke up to three inches of snow on the ground today! That's not going to stop me from dreaming about warmer weather though. I feel denim always has a resurgence in the spring because you don't have to stuff them into boots anymore, so more colors (or lack of color!) and styles come out. Here are a few of my current spring insprirations, plus pieces that will get you the same look for under $100 at Nordstrom!

one | two | three | four

White jeans are obviously huge every spring, and I'm so excited to start wearing mine (I have number three that I found at Nordstrom Rack a few summers ago). Not only do they go with every color in you closet, I think they look so chic with the neutrals (chambray is a neutral, right?)

one | two | three | four

While skinny jeans are currently the denim that everyone wears, bootcut and slightly flared jeans are universally flattering. I love how they instantly elevate any look, and are a great way to still wear your booties in the spring, or break out your wedges when it's finally warm enough for open toed shoes.

one | two | three | four

My personal favorite type of denim is black denim - it's so easy to dress up or down, and it always looks good. I've owned several different pairs over the years, and they are always my most worn pair of pants. I keep mine dark by only washing them with the Woolite Dark laundry detergent - I haven't had a pair fade since I started using it. Wear them to work with a blazer, or out for brunch with a black top and cognac accessories. 

Picture Inspiration

White Jeans (clockwise from top left): one | two | three | four

Bootcut Jeans (clockwise from top left): one | two | three | four

Black Jeans (clockwise from top  left): one | two | three | four

thank you to ShopStyle for sponsoring this post!

a boy's life

For the men at my school, the dress code is very straightforward - you have to wear a shirt and tie. For the ladies, the rules are a little easier to play with - you just can't wear jeans, and you're supposed to look "professional". This leaves a ton up to interpretation, so you'll see anything from yoga pants to sundresses to the more conservative pants suit.

I felt this outfit was like the female equivalent to the mens rule - button up, black bottom, shoes and a belt that match. The feminine shape of the skirt and the gold jewelry make it all girl though ;)

Blouse: J.Crew [cute similar]

Skirt: J.Crew [exact on sale]

Belt: Gap [very similar]

Shoes: Frye [exact on sale]

Earrings: eBay [exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]

Bracelet: c/o Rocksbox [use code franishxoxo for 1st month free]

P.S. If you are reading this before 10 AM, check out the current Loft flash sale - 70% off sale items means my favorite pocket blouse is less than $14!

top three [03.29.2015]

leopard flats [save | exact] for all occasions: one | two | three

medicine

• A chronic lack of niacin in one's diet can lead to a condition called pellagra. The med school mnemonic way of remembering it is that it causes the 3 D's - diarrhea, dementia, and dermatitis. The dermatitis, specifically, can be something called a casal necklace - it's a skin condition that does kind of look like a large (statement?) necklace. 
• I'm sure we've all heard the great things that biotin supplements can do for our hair and nails (I used to take these all the time until I was sick of having to do my nails twice a week because they grew so fast).  Biotin deficiency is actually pretty rare because you don't need a ton of it, and it's in a lot of different foods, but an interesting way of having a biotin deficiency is by eating too many raw egg whites. I hope someone lets Gaston know. 
• Smoking is probably one of the worst things you can do for your body - every system we have learned about (which at this point is all of them) talks about how horrible it is, and what awful disease your body will get if you smoke...except if you have ulcerative colitis. Smokers are much less likely to develop ulcerative colitis, and those who have UC have less severe forms when they are smoking. Still not a good reason to take up smoking, but it is interesting!

on the internet

• I am not really a Lilly girl, but even I'm excited for the new Lilly x Target collection to come out. There are some real gems in there, including cute eyelet shorts and home goods. Many true Lilly girls are claiming this is watering down the brand - thoughts? 
• Fran Lebowitz and I share the same name and the same amount of sass (kidding, she's much sassier than I ever could be). Her recent interview with Elle was hilarious - what I wouldn't give to hear her say all this in real life!
• How precious are these pictures of Nicole? She's just so darn cute, and I love how her outfit matches the background!
• P.S. Thank you to Jen for including me in her list of 9 bloggers she loves -we go way back to the when both of our blogs were just started :)

spotted

• Have you seen these bejeweled sandals yet? They are almost identical to this pair from J.Crew, but for more than 1/6 the price! I'm picking up a pair the next time I'm in Target!
• I love how fun and flirty this dress is - it's simple enough that there are endless ways to accessorize it. 
• Looking for the perfect spring trench? This one looks verrrrrrry similar to the 17x as expensive Burberry trench, and it's truly a classic. 

on franish

• on the blog: march's budget + a ton of other budgeting bloggers
• on the instagram: an #ootd for a fun little double date
• on the twitter: my favorite snapchat so far (find me @ fhasselhof)

notable sales

• Ann Taylor: $50 off full price dresses (floral + eyelet = beautiful)
• Banana Republic: 50% select full price items (like my beloved cognac flats)
• Loft: 40% off (don't forget to sign up for their emails to get an additional 25% off!)

personal

• I purchased a pack of emoji stickers earlier this week, and they have been the best thing about board studying. I've been entertaining myself by finding appropriate places for them in First Aid ("the bible" for board studying). 
• I'm a very visual learner, and it's something that I wish I sometimes could turn off at night. Whenever I'm doing something that's hard for me, and something where I spend a lot of time staring at notes, I start to dream about it. All. Night. Long. So in college during organic chemistry, I used to dream about synthesizing new chemical structures. During anatomy last year, I used to dream about muscle attachments. I'm now officially in the practice question part of board studying, so every night after doing hours and hours of questions while conscious, my brain doesn't turn it off while unconscious, and I still do "practice questions" while I sleep. It's horrible. Any tips for turning your brain off at night? 
• Not horrible? A sushi date with Caitlin where drinks, so much sushi, and many laughs were had. So thankful for that girl!

march budget

Loft bow blouse [seen here]: originally $55 + 40% = $33

Loft pocket blouse [seen here]: originally $50 + 40% = $30

Forever 21 necklace: $7

March Budget = $70

Quarter budget: $89 in February + $70 in March = $341 left 

Between late nights this week in the library and early morning class/shelf exams, I'm a little burned out right now, so this post, like my spending, is going to be short and sweet. While I purchased quite a few things this month, most (as always) didn't really work out, but I'm very pleased with the three that did.

Forever 21's clothes don't fit me very well, but I've always been pleasantly surprised with their jewelry. I've been eyeing several more expensive options for tassel necklaces, but you really can't beat one for seven bucks. This one is also the perfect length - I've noticed that some are rather long, but I wanted one that hit me ~mid chest, and this one does. If you aren't near a store, I've noticed that F21 has been running more free shipping on all orders recently, so it may be worth waiting a few days if you don't want to add anything else to your order (since you can only return items for store credit). 

I got both the Loft blouses at 40% off - Loft is currently running the same promotion where everything is 40% off (excluding Lou & Grey). I suggest signing up for the emails before putting in an order, because they will send you a 25% off order coupon and you can use that on top of the already 40% off (thank you to Cat for pointing out this great little trick!). Like I mentioned a few posts ago, I've had my eye on the chambray blazer, so I ordered that, as well as a few other items including these great tweed straight pants and an eyelet tee. I'll of course let you guys know how it all works out, and include them in my budget post next month if they work out.

In addition to the Loft order I put in yesterday, I also finally ordered the J.Crew Field jacket after admiring it on my friend Caitlin for over the past year. It's currently on sale with an additional 30% off (code: happyspring), which brings it down to $77 (basically half price). If you've been looking for a spring jacket, I've heard nothing but great things! I ordered the black version in a tall large.

So that's it for me! How did you do this month? Please link to your post below, and as always, please link back to this one so your readers can find other budgeting inspiration!

on wednesdays we wear pink

I think I fell into a bit of a neutrals hole this past year - looking back at past budget posts, I almost exclusively purchased black, white, grey, or tan. I feel more comfortable in these colors as I find it easier to mix and match items, but sometimes you need a pink shirt just to mix it up a little bit. 

On a different note, Jessica featured me yesterday in her first installment of blogger style files - you can read our little mad lib here!

Blouse: Loft [exact]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Belt: Gap [similar]

Shoes: Madewell [exact]

Loft's newest arrivals are so pretty - it really has become my favorite store! Here are a few I have my eye on currently - I'm definitely ordering the chambray blazer during the next great sale, and I may order the coral dress to see if it's a possibility for one of the FIVE weddings I'm going to this summer. Luckily there isn't a lot of overlap between guests, so I can wear one dress to several weddings. 

one | two | three 

four | five | six

how a cute bag can save a life

In school, we spend a lot of time learning how our bodies develop, and how in less than a year, a few cells turn into a human being. There are literally a million different things that can go wrong in this developmental process, but I've always found that the most traumatizing of these to be right at the end, during the birthing process. Infections and certain trauma can be managed or eliminated with the appropriate medical care, but that is something that  40 million women every year don't have access to.  More than 800 women a day die during the birthing process, which is completely heartbreaking.

TOMS's newest One for One program is looking to provide a safer birthing experience for women all over the world. With the purchase of one of the new TOMS bags, TOMS will be provide birthing kits and training to birth attendants in developing countries. I think this is such a wonderful initiative, and was honored to be asked to help spread the word. I think their new line of bags is not only beautiful, but you can't help but feel good about the fact that it also makes such a difference in another woman's life. Below are a few of my favorites, and how they can be incorporated into your daily routines. 

TOMS bags: one | two | three | four

[dress | necklace | hat | bracelet | belt | shoes]

TOMS backpacks: one | two | three | four
[chambray | chinos | scarf | flats currently on sale]

TOMS travel bags: one | two | three | four

[dress | denim jacket | scarf | sunglasses | passport cover | sandals]

Thank you to popsugar and TOMS for sponsoring this post

top three [03.22.2015]

my favorite cognac flats are now 50% off : one | two | three

medicine

• Hemochromatosis is a disease where iron builds up in the body. It's a hereditary disease that people may not even know they have until they set off metal detectors with the high levels of iron in their blood! Even more interesting is the way to treat it is phlebotomy - just like as if they were donating blood!
• Having gallstones sounds pretty horrible, and even more horrible is what can happen to the gallbladder if someone has too many. A porcelain gallbladder is basically a calcified gallbladder and the only treatment is to take it out. The imaging of it is pretty cool though!
• A deletion of about 26 genes from chromosome 7 results in a disease called Williams Syndrome. Besides the physical characteristics of "elfin" features and certain cardiovascular problems like supravalvular aortic stenosis, the most interesting characteristic is that these people are overly trusting of strangers. This quick documentary was a fun watch with a bit of insight into the disease. 

on the internet

• Trends that aren't for short girls...or are they? 
• Spring was meant for trench coats - how great does Anne look here? 
• It was also meant for sandals - I will get my hands on a pair of salt waters this year! Red please. 

spotted

• This skirt makes me want to twirl - and it's under $20, so I'm pretty sure that needs to happen. 
• Why are all the prettiest dresses white?! I'm still looking for a dress for the wedding we are going to in May, and this is seriously the prettiest I've seen yet  - and I don't care what magazines say, it's not okay to wear white to someone else's wedding! ;)
• This suit may be world's most flattering swimsuit - it looks like it has just the right amount of boob support while still being fun. 

on franish

• on the blog: a bunch of reviews (good for at least a couple of LOLs)
• on the instagram: post-exam flowers solve all problems 
• on the twitter: (large) coffee brings us together

notable sales

• Banana Republic (50% off sale items): isn't the pattern on this dress the coolest? 
• Madewell (25% off certain spring styles): that includes my leopard skimmers! 
• Old Navy (30% off everything): they have SO many cute things right now, like everything on this page (and especially this dress in white...of course!)

personal

• Tomorrow is our last "normal" systems exam! After that we have two weeks of mostly study time with some shelf exams thrown in, and then we finish with psychiatry. It is crazy to me how much we have read and learned about these past two years - we know so much more than we did when we started in the middle of 2013, but yet we really know nothing at all. I'm excited to have a bit more freedom with studying the next few weeks!
• We finally finished Game of Thrones last weekend and now I'm having major withdrawals. The next season looks so good! Now we are watching about an episode of House of Cards a week - I wish we could just barrel through it in like one sitting, but a few minutes every day is nice too. 
• Anyone have tips on how to keep little nosy dogs out of cat litter boxes? Both of mine have acquired a new taste for "cat treats" :/ We will probably just get a shorter baby gate but I'm hoping maybe there's a cheaper option ;)

the "new" favorite

I know that bloggers tend to say "this is my new favorite shirt/dress/shoe" about any new item, but this shirt is seriously my favorite thing right now. I've worn it three times in the eleven days I've owned it - from a post-exam lunch date to a history and physical practical to a few hours at the library.

I'm in the process of writing a post about how to build a cohesive wardrobe because it's the thing I'm e-mailed about most, and one of my biggest tips is finding out exactly what and why you like something, and then buy similar items. For me, my favorite tops in my closet are all like this one - a simple, long-sleeved, non-collared, shirt that either has pretty details, a fun pattern, or a pretty color like this one. They are simple enough that I can wear multiple accessories with it, and they can be worn in a variety of situations. They are the shirts I reach for again and again, so that's why I'm okay saying that this is a "new favorite", because I know I'll wear it...again and again :)

(it was actually 45 degrees this day - but of course the one place with shade for these pictures was the only area with snow!)

Blouse: Loft [exact on sale - mine is a tall medium]

Jeans: Madewell [exact]

Necklace: Forever 21 [more options below]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]

Ring: c/o Shopbop [exact]

Shoes: Banana Republic [exact on HUGE sale]

Nails: Essie [exact]

via instagram

I'm all about these longer necklaces right now rather than shorter statement necklaces. While I won't be able to wear them while on rotations, I love how such a simple necklace can make the outfit. Here are a few others currently out there - I just ordered an inexpensive tassel one from Forever 21 and can't wait to receive it!

one | two | three

four | five | six

love it / want it

Over the past few years, neutrals have slowly been taking over both my closet and my make up routine. I rarely shy away from the more subdued colors of bronze, soft pinks, and a thick black lash anymore (even though I wish I could rock the blue mascara like my mom does!). Here are a few of my tried and true neutral favorites, as well as a few from Nordstrom's New Neutral collection that I'd like to try out in the future: 

one: pricey, but one swipe is all you need for a customized pink pout 

two: two layers of this, and you'll have a chip free manicure for at least a week

three: used only on special occasions, I love the bit of beautiful hightlighting this does!

four: a serious staple in my rotation (other current favorites: go ginza and minimalistic)

five: it looks super pigmented, but it actually looks really natural on (and one pot lasts forrrrrevvver)

six: truly the only eyeshadow palette you'll ever need

seven: the easiest way to get that flushed look - watch the video to see how pretty it is on!

eight: the outside is just so pretty, plus the reviews say it's the most beautiful pink when on your lips

nine: an update on the bronzer I grew up watching my mom use 

ten: this polymer trio promises voluminous lashes, and the reviews can't stop raving about it

eleven: besides being the perfect "better than nude" color, the name (bitch perfect) is...well, perfect!

twelve: you will never have to buy another blush again (*a Nordstrom exclusive...want so bad!)

thank you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post - all opinions are of course my own 

top three [03.15.2015]

my favorite favorite jeans: one | two | three

medicine

• We started derm this week, and it may just be the grossest system so far. Fungal balls in lungs? No problem. Weird crazy ulcerating colons? Horrible disease, but I don't mind learning about it. Cutaneous horns?! GROSS, please stop. Seriously....horns...from your skin. Nope nope nope.
• Molluscum contagiosum sounds like a spell in Harry Potter, but I think it's my favorite skin condition just because the pathology is so pretty. It's a fairly common viral skin disease that you can get from direct contact (apparently gym towels and wrestling mats are popular places to pick this fun disease up), but I just love the way it looks (which sounds weird, but it's that kind of stuff that makes me consider going into pathology!)
• Familial Adenomatous Polyposis is an inherited disorder that results in thousands of polyps in the large intestines that will result in colon cancer, which is why people who have this disorder prophylactically have their rectum and colon removed. The pictures of it are just amazing in the sense that our body does something like this to itself. 

on the internet

• I love reading everyone's takes on instagramming - here are a couple of interesting tips that I hadn't heard before!
• Tips for getting rid of dark spots from a future dermatologist - I just order both creams to try to get rid of a few pesky spots.
• I love Bri's new recurring post, Trav and Bri Recently - I just like reading about what's going on in her life outside of blogging. 
• Extra: how amazing does Adina look in this dress?

spotted

• I added this blouse as an add-on to get free shipping, and it turns out it was my favorite item in the order (for reference, I ordered it in a medium tall). Review coming up early this week but just a heads up, it's currently 40% off! 
• Possibly the perfect sandal, now that it's finally warm enough to think sandals.
• How precious is this skirt? I would have no idea how to wear it, but I love the idea of it. 

on franish

• on the instagram: spending a few hours in a pristine white coat and this beautiful coral blouse
• on the blog: a peak into a day in my life
• on the twitter: I've been working on that post for weeks now!

notable sales

• Ann Taylor (40% off everything!): go for this wrap trench dress (seriously, I bet it's flattering on everyone)
• Gap (30% off everything): how pretty is this cotton dress?
• J.Crew (30% off sale items): their pencil skirts are my favorite, and currently under $60

personal

• I finally joined snapchat. I don't know really how to use it, but my younger sister pressured me into it and here we are. @fhasselhof for probably too many cat and dog pictures ;)
• On Friday night CR and stayed up later than normal to finish the last episode of Game of Thrones, then stayed up even later talking, and then slept in later than 8:00...and it was awesome. A diner breakfast may or may not have been involved after we woke up. 
• SPRING! It feels like one day it was the middle of deep winter, and all of a sudden it was 45 degrees out and most of the snow was gone. While nicer weather makes it harder to force myself to stay inside all day, it's nice to be able to go out on a mid-afternoon walk with the dogs. If it could just stay 50 degrees forever, that would be greeeeeaaaat. 

day in the life: of a second year med student (while board studying...)

7:30: Good morning! I somehow have turned into one of those people who is awake as soon as the alarm goes off (ok fine, only one snooze), so I go downstairs to let the dogs out. While the snow just about everywhere else has melted, the back of our complex never gets sun, so we still have two feet of it out back - it's entertaining to watch Hans walk across it and then sink in ;)

 7:45: Shower time. I've recently started dry brushing before getting in the shower using this inexpensive brush I found on Amazon. My skin is pretty dry, and the combination of dry brushing + this lubriderm lotion has really helped this winter. After showering I quickly do my make up (my staples include this smashbox powder, stila's eyeliner, and this too faced mascara). I needed to wash my hair today, so getting ready takes a bit longer on those days. I use a combination of Kiehl's heat-protective cream and living proof's style extender before blow drying, and a few blasts of oribe's dry texturizing spray after curling my hair.

ten things

you may not know about me [as inspired by Alissa's recent post]

1. Growing up, my parents insisted I have long hair - it was down to my butt for much of my childhood
2. I planned on becoming an English teacher in college, until my parents convinced me to give science a try.
3. I'm a permanent resident, not a citizen, of the US, so I'm not allowed to vote. Everyone always asks me if I'm going eventually become a citizen, and to be honest, I don't really know why I would go through the hassle of it all.
4. I will always choose a cheeseburger over a piece of cake
5. ...unless it's tiramisu, and then it's a toss up (but only if it's made by my mom)
6. I was in the University of Wisconsin Marching Band in college. It sounds super dorky, but it was actually the hardest thing I've ever done, and the most rewarding (so far in life, anyway!). I got to travel all over the country, met some of the coolest people, and I can honestly say those were the happiest years of my life - so far ;)
7. I became scuba certified in sixth grade, but only have gone a handful of times since then. My sister, dad, uncle, and I went on a scuba trip my junior year of college to Little Cayman and it was by far one of the coolest experiences - we saw a hammerhead shark!
8. My first car was a '57 Chevy Bel Air. It didn't work when my dad bought it from one of the nurses he worked with, but we spent a year fixing it. It was giant and bright teal and I half loved it and half hated it. We ended up selling it back to that same nurse after I graduated from high school.
9. I have a small star tattoo on my left wrist. You may have never seen it (although you can in the picture below) because 19 year old me was smart enough to put it somewhere that can easily be covered up, but even so, I plan on having it lasered off when I pay my braces off...
10. ...I have braces! I did the whole braces thing twice growing up, but it didn't stick. I'm using my blogging income to have a mouth full of straight teeth, once and for all (although they aren't all real - my sister pushed me down a water slide when I was younger, and I broke off one of my front teeth. bitch.)

Your turn! What don't we know about you?

Blouse: Loft [similar in 5 colors]

Jeans: Madewell [regular | talls on sale]

Scarf: gift from Steph

Belt: Gap [very similar]

Shoes: Frye [exact on sale]

Tote: Madewell [save options below | exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]

Bracelet: c/o Rocksbox [use code franishxoxo for 1 free month]

and a few more inexpensive options (almost all under $50). I know several people (including Audrey) who have the first bag who really like it!

one | two | three

four | five | six

top three [03.08.2015]

obsessed with this nail polish color [pictures via instagram]

medicine

• There are a ton of different types of tumors you can get for each location in your body, so there isn't just an ovarian tumor, there are many different types of ovarian tumors.  One type is a mucinous tumors that is what its name implies: full of mucus. There is a type of ovarian tumor that produces so much mucus that it can fill an entire abdominal cavity, causing pseudomyxoma peritonei (or "jelly belly"). As always, google at your own risk! ;)
• Uterine prolapse is probably just as horrible as it sounds - basically the uterus "comes loose" and protrudes out through the vagina. This often happens after birth, and can be surgically corrected. Don't want surgery? Pessaries are objects that can be used to hold everything up and in, and have been around for thousands of years (apparently pomegranates used to be popular?). 
• There's a type of inherited skin disorder called ichthyosis where keratin in the skin builds up, but can't be sloughed off normally. One of the most severe forms is harlequin ichthyosis, where the dermis can be up to ten times as thick as normal. I remember learning about this during anatomy when we first started school, and was so mortified by it - my lab mates at the time loved to torture me by sending me pictures of poor little harlequin babies at random times throughout the month. This documentary on someone who has ichthyosis was super inspiring at the time though - definitely something to watch if you have 20 minutes!

on the internet

• No one ever emails me with "social media exposure" as payment, but if they did, I'll send them straight here to let them know nope nope nope. 
• Part work, part casual - pretty sure Kendi can do no wrong. 
• How to always get the haircut you want - needed, since my hair never turns out the way I want. 

spotted

• The perfect spring dress - full short sleeves, neutral colors for all your bright accessories, and in a super flattering cut (I just ordered it...along with this black/brown cardigan, because I have a neutrals problem...)
• I don't have a big bag collection because I'm overly picky when it comes to bags. I realized that I don't have a simple black clutch though, so now I'm on the look out. Isn't this one perfect? If only I got a tax refund this year! :(
• While I love a great statement necklace, I've been really drawn to longer necklaces lately. I love how this tassel (with mini pearls!!) necklace can be dressed up or down.

on franish

• on the instagram: all about that office supplies (the USB doctor can be found here in blue and in pink!)
• on the blog: have you entered the giveaway yet? 
• on the twitter: my friday afternoons are my glamorous than yours

notable sales

• J.Crew: extra 30% off sale items 
• Pick up this summer's coverup for a steal
• LOFT: 40% off everything 
• A closet staple that comes in petites, regular, and talls!
• I'm so happy someone made the exact dress I've been looking for for weeks!
• Madewell: extra 30% (sometimes up to 50% off sale items
• Wish I wore heels more because I'd be all over this mint pair
• I don't need this sweater, I don't need this sweater, I don't need this sweater (but I realllllllly want it)

personal

• We had our second reproduction exam on Friday, so we've had a "free" weekend. Of course it's not really free, but we did take Friday evening off. CR and I went to this super cute little Italian restaurant, and then went to see Focus (do not really recommend...maybe Redbox it). It was so nice to just spend some time together outside of sitting across from each other at the library. 
• We are officially in our last "normal" system right now - once we are done with derm all we really have left is pysch! We are all coming to the realization that the classroom work is coming to a close, and it's exciting and so so terrifying at the same time. It's been so nice being mostly on our own schedule all the time (even though that schedule revolves around studying) that it's going to be a bit hard to be on someone else's schedule again. I'm really excited to actually put all of this knowledge to some kind of use - or at least see how things work in the real world ;)
• While I love that it's going to get warmer ~soon, I also kind of hate spring because I hate warm weather clothes. I really need to move somewhere where it is fall all year long. I just don't like shorts, tank tops, strapless anything, rompers - just about everything you'll see people get really excited about in the next few months. I really need to just find the perfect cotton dress with sleeves, and then buy it in every color. Who else out there kind of hates spring clothes? 

midwest is best

You guys know I'm all about the scarves - when you deal with close to six months of winter a year, you learn quickly that a variety of scarves is needed to deal with the constant freezing weather. I was super excited when Kelsey, a fellow Wisconsin girl, reached out to let me know that she had started her own Etsy shop that sells a variety of beautiful home-made scarves and if I'd like to try one out. A homemade scarf made in my favorite city? Yes please.

I went with the Madison Infinity scarf in butterscotch - it is so soft and I love that it's a little bit of home. The butterscotch color is a great addition to my closet since I own very little yellow, but I love the way it works with my favorite chambray shirt and leopard flats (that are currently 30% off!). 

Interested in one of these beautiful scarves for yourself? You can enter the giveaway below (US residents only please), or you can use the code FRANISH15 to get 15% off an order (good through April 15th). 

Scarf: c/o Midwestern Comfort [exact]

Chambray: J.Crew [exact]

Pants: The Limited [exact]

Watch: Michael Kors [save | exact]

Shoes: Madewell [exact on sale]

Belt: Gap [very similar]

Nails: Essie [exact]

Ring: c/o Rocksbox [use code franishxoxo for 1 month free!]

a Rafflecopter giveaway

spring ahead: shopbop sale

sunglasses: one | two | three

tops: one | two | three

jeans: one | two | three

flats: one | two | three

Today is first day of Shopbop's Big Spring Sale. If you've had your eye on anything these past few months, now is the time to act. It starts today, and ends on Sunday at 4 AM. It's a tiered sale so

if you spend $250, you get 15% off

if you spend $500, you get 20% off

if you spend $1000, you get 25%

Not looking to drop $250, but know of a friend who is also eyeing something? Go in on an order together to still get the savings!

I'm going to use this as an opportunity to upgrade some of my denim. I have several pairs of jeans that I have just completely worn through (not so bad, $30 jeans lasting 5 years!) so I'd like to get a pair of causal lightly distressed jeans. I have several pairs of dark ("nice") jeans, but I love the look of just a bit of distressing for days off. I'm thinking this pair will be what I try - I love that the color is a bit different! I also added this looser sweater (in pale pink) to my order - it doesn't follow my usual set of "rules" but I'm also a little sick of those rules...

Disclosure: Shopbop is a sponsor of this blog by providing me with a monthly shopping stipend. I was asked to share this sale with all of you, but all opinions are my own...duh ;)

top three [03.01.2015]

my favorite gold watch [save | exact] : one | two | three

medicine

• Buerger's Disease is a form of vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels) that affects mainly medium to small vessels in the hands and feet. Almost all people who get this are smokers (the treatment is actually to stop smoking!) but what I found most interesting is that it can lead to auto-amputation (because the blood isn't circulating correctly, so fingers / toes / feet become gangrenous and die). This video (warning! it's pretty graphic) shows just the extent of what this disease can do. 
• I'm sure you've heard stories about people who found tumors in their bodies and claimed that they were their "twin" that they ate in utero, because the tumors had hair and teeth. Those are actually teratomas - they are tumors that contain parts of what look like normal components of the body (hair, teeth, bones). When we were in cadaver lab, we would find these random pieces of dark hair throughout our cadaver's body (like we put cut into a muscle, and pull out hairs) and we would joke that they were "two cell teratomas". There are some pretty gnarly pictures out there, so google at your own risk! 
• Endometriosis is a fairly common condition where endometrium (the cells that line the uterus) implant in areas they shouldn't. This can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on where the endometrial tissue is. I think the most interesting case is when implants in an ovary. Like regular endometrial tissue, the transplanted tissue still responds to hormones and will undergo the same changes as uterine tissue does during the menstrual cycle. The growth and sloughing off, with no where to go, eventually leads to something called a "chocolate cyst" in the ovary - it really does look like melted chocolate. 

on the internet

• more instagram tips - while technically for small businesses, you can totally use these for your own "blogging" business
• winter whites, done right (plus her bag is like my dream cognac bag!) 
• I love when I can see different ways to wear the same piece, so I loved Jean's 10 different outfits with one of my favorite pieces of hers. I know I wouldn't be able to wear the necklace much once rotations started, or else I would totally have purchased it. 

spotted

• I've been a little bored with my neutrals + neutrals + neutrals routine lately, and so I'm trying to step outside of my normal stripes, whites, tans routine by ordering this colorblocked lilac shirt. Who knows, maybe I'll end up hating it, or it'll be the shirt I can't stop wearing this spring and summer. I also added on a pretty salmon bow blouse (it comes in talls!), just to really get spring started...with the several feet of snow we still have on the ground ;)
• Thoughts on this dress for a spring wedding? I've always wanted a pretty maxi dress!
• This is the cutest tech gadget ever. Gold polka dots!

on franish

• on instagram: finally ordered the Nars lipstick and while the tube is smaller than expected, it is very pretty! 
• on the blog: where my budget money went this month and all the ladies who linked up
• on twitter: winter can end anytime now.

notable sales

• Ann Taylor: 50% off sale items (may finally just have to order this spotted top...right?!)
• J. Crew: 25% off closet "must haves" (I "must have" this sparkly top - it's like a hidden party)
• Old Navy: 40% off the entire store with ON/Gap/BR card (need this J.Crew-like tuxedo blouse!!)

personal

• Things are looking a little different around here! After a very frustrating initial experience with finding someone to do my re-design, I found Maru on Etsy and I just can't say enough good things about my experience working with her. She was such a professional and such a joy to work with - prompt with emails, totally willing to make the smallest of changes, and we were just very much on the same page about what I wanted my blog to look like. If you are looking for someone to do the same for you, really go check out her Etsy shop. She offers everything from social media buttons to template designs to custom designs (the option I chose) at a very affordable price. 
• While I refused to read the books, my roommate wanted to see 50 Shades of Grey for her birthday so we all went a few weeks ago. It was ridiculous (although entertaining!) but the best thing in that entire movie was this song. I can't stop listening to it! Second best part was the few snapshots of Seattle - I'm already looking forward to the next time I can go back.
• CR's family came down to visit us this weekend, and it was so great to hang out with them for the evening. My family is currently spread out all over the world - from South Africa (my sister) to Hungary (my brother) to Alabama (my mom) to Jakarta (my dad) - so it was nice to have "family" time with people who are a bit closer to my current home. I would love for my own family to come visit though (hint hint ;) )