february budget

Loft blouse: originally $50, on sale for $25 (currently on sale for $20!)

J.Crew Factory dress: originally $80, on sale for $35

February budget: $60

Quarterly budget: $500 - $60 in February = $440 left for spring!

The end of the month just kind of snuck up on me! One second it's New Years Eve, and a blink later, we're at the end of February already! While I did quite a bit of shopping this month (catch some of the reviews here), I only kept two items. The Loft blouse (which you've seen here) is just gorgeous in real life, and I'm so excited about it (if you're interested, I suggest sizing down. I had to return my large for a medium). The dress is from J.Crew Factory (also reviewed here), and I can't wait to wear it when I'm at the beach next week! 

I have ordered quite a few things the past few days, including new work out leggings, sports bra, embroidered dress, and a lace tee. As soon as everything comes in, I'll do a quick review post, and whatever I keep will go into March's budget. As for the rest of spring, I have my eye on a few things. Shopbop is currently having a spend more, save more sale, so now is the time to get those star wrap sandals I've been eyeing for months. Other than that, I'd like a few simple dresses (considering this wrap version), and maybe a few tops (hello, stripes!) that are more casual and not for work. 

As always, it's your turn! Can't wait to see what you got this month :)

top three [02.26.2017]

I just really love my: camel blazer (seriously, it's my favorite!)

medicine:

• The Mayo Clinic announced this week that last year, they successfully completed a near entire face transplant on a patient following a suicide attempt. The surgery took over 55 hours! You can see a before and after here. Medicine is so cool!
• Tuberculosis is named after the Latin word tuber because the swollen glands associated with Tb look like little vegetables!
• Pitted keratolysis is a disease my friend just saw while on her derm rotation. It is a bacterial infection of the feet that causes pits in the feet - it looks like this. 

check out:

• Jessica's post about doing a closet clean out. How cute is her early spring look? Love that background (it's the capitol building in Madison!). 
• Zeba explains how she does her flat lay pictures - I alway enjoy reading how others do it!
• Veronika shares her favorite podcasts. I listened to so many podcasts over the past year due to all the driving I did for rotations and interviews, and so many of my favorites are on her list (my #1 is How I Built This - I love learning about entrepreneurs and their stories).

spotted:

• The color and style of this Steve Madden tote are classics, but the stitching keeps it young and fresh. Do you prefer the cognac or black version? 
• "Fancy tees" are definitely my favorite category of clothing - cotton, non-constricting, and cute?! It's the perfect article of clothing. Loft has an adorable version of the fancy tee that I am in love with - that black tee is definitely going to be mine!
• I am obsessed with BB Dakota's adorable lace dress. I love that it has a higher neckline and sleeves, but the shorter hemline and fabric keep it sexy and flirty. BB Dakota continues to be one of my favorite brands!

throwback sunday:

• What I wore on the first day of medical school. 
• The first outtakes post (a new version coming soon!)
• My experience with Invisalign (still one of the best purchases I've ever made)

ask me anything:

• You featured a mascara on your instagram this week and mentioned how amazing it was (and your lashes looked fab!). Do you mind sharing what brand it was?
• It's from Chanel! I know, I know...it's pretty expensive. I got a sample of it when I went to a beauty event at Nordstrom this week, and am a bit obsessed with it now. If you live near a Nordstrom (or any department store that sells Chanel beauty products), I'd stop by to see if they have any samples for you to try it out. I'm hoping that'll get me by for the next few months ;)
• Second year medical student here. What are your favorite brands, styles, colors for scrubs? Do you have to buy them for yourself or do hospitals provide them?
• So to answer your second question first, it really depends what rotation you are on and where you are working. If you are on a surgical rotation, you will wear the scrubs provided to you by the hospital - most hospitals have rules that you can only wear scrubs they wash at the hospital in their operating rooms. If you are on a medicine service, you may have to wear hospital scrubs or your own - I would ask your resident when you start! Most times if you are in the clinic and are allowed to wear scrubs, this is when you can wear your own! I haven't tried a ton of different scrubs myself, but Maevn sent me two pairs a few months ago and I'm obsessed with them. The pants come in longs, which is key if you are tall (they also have petites for you shorter ladies). They are just so comfortable, and flattering (especially when compared to the ones provided by the hospital). I have a navy pair and a ceil blue pair. 
• How do you care for your leather and suede shoes?
• For leather goods, I use this cleaner and conditioner. I clean and condition usually once at the beginning of winter and once at the end - I just do all of my shoes and purses at once! For suede boots, I use this spray from Scotchgard!

on franish:

• on the blog: a step by step guide to doing your nails at home
• on the instagram: a big step in the Match process is over...and now we wait!
• on the twitter: kisses from a beauty event at Nordstrom!

notable sales:

• Frye: extra 25% off sale items
• The most classic of all Frye items, on sale!
• I could totally do these heeled booties! Aren't they gorgeous?!
• I wouldn't normally associated Frye with sneakers, but the ones they make are pretty cool. I'm probably not cool enough to wear them. 
• Kohl's: 20% off everything
• Not clothing related, but the classic KitchenAid is now just over $200 (and yes, this will definitely be on our registry! I can't wait).
• This sassy and flirty dress by Lauren Conrad is like the dancing emoji in real life!
• How freaking cute are these work out leggings? I love the lattice detail and that they are higher waisted!
• Nordstrom: Winter sale picks
• I live in my Zella leggings - this fun pair is currently 40% off!
• One of my wish list items is a Barbour jacket...and now there are several on sale! I just really want a cute raincoat for our trip to Ireland ;)
• I've mentioned Ellen's new shoe link a few times now but her shoes are just the cutest...and now this "joyful" pair is 40% off!

at home:

• On Thursday, I met up with Katy at Nordstrom in Beachwood for a sneak peak for Nordstrom's Beauty Trend week coming up in two weeks. We got our make-up done (I love when people do my make-up), got to play with a whole bunch of goodies, and left with the most amazing swag bag (it had full sized Chanel skincare products in it!). I also ended up ordering several beauty products because they were that beautiful (spoiler: this eyeshadow palette and this contour/highlight palette that looked amazing on everyone that was there that night!). 
• I talked about this on Instagram, but we officially handed in our rank lists on Wednesday. Now there is nothing to do except wait. We find out in 3 weeks what happens...and yes, I'm slowly dying waiting!
• On Friday, it was 70 degrees!! It was absolutely amazing. I sat outside with the dogs, got a bit of sun, and then went on a picnic with my friend Amy. Now it's back to 30 degrees...

healthyish, vol. 9

This week, I've been thinking a lot about goals. I have never been one to really make a lot of them, so having three weekly goals every week to try to achieve has been a new thing for me, but one that's really been working out well. Since one of my goals from last week was to achieve a new PR in spin class, I went into Wednesday's class really motivated to achieve it. From the first song, I tried to have a higher resistance and spin faster because I really wanted to get there, and was so proud when I did! Luckily our instructor was in a ball busting mood and had a really tough profile planned anyway, but it felt really rewarding to achieve that goal. It's been nice to set new little goals every week, ones that make me either work harder or do something outside of my day to day comfort zone. It's because of that and you guys that I'm now into this 9 weeks because otherwise, I would have probably given up after week 2. and 3. and every week since then ;)

exercise:

Sunday: Pure Barre platform (so fun!)

Monday: 1 hour spin class

Tuesday: 1 hour spin class

Wednesday: 1 hour spin class (with a new PR!)

Saturday: 1 hour spin class

diet: 

This week I rediscovered my love for turkey bacon, and made it for every breakfast (except Wednesday when we had an early OR day again, and got a Power Sandwich instead). Snacks this week included grapes, bananas, and these amazing habanero bbq almonds. For lunch I made bang bang shrimp with broccoli and fried cauliflower rice - this was SO good! I'm going to remake it this week but with chicken instead. For dinners we had chicken sausage with homemade sweet potato fries (just cut up sweet potatoes, tossed in olive oil and salt, and baked for ~25 minutes). We also tried Green Giant's mashed cauliflower, and I have to say, this was not my favorite. I love their vegetable tots and vegetable rice (that's what I used to make the fried rice for lunch), but this was just really soupy and garlicy and just not that great. 

goals: 

Last week's goals: 

• Go to 1 Pure Barre class: done! Went to a platform class on Sunday
• Hit a new PR for calories burned at spin: done!! 
• Make a new recipe with cauliflower rice: done!  

Next week's goals:

• Make these mini egg frittata muffins for snacks
• Hit 20 works outs in February (I did 17 in January and want to beat it!)
• Don't step on the scale until Friday

treats:

We are watching the Oscars with our friends tomorrow, and making cheese and chocolate fondue. It's going to be amazing.

weigh in: -2.2 lbs (total: - 9.0 lbs)

On Thursday, I felt I had been doing really well all week, and wanted to see how I was doing. I was so excited to see that I was officially down 9 pounds! The problem was, I got super PMSy that day, and because I had already weighed myself and knew I was doing well, I kind of didn't do as well with the last few days as I should have. Instead, I got chocolate during my lunch break, and made not the smartest decisions for meals later on. I definitely don't regret any of those things (because they were so good!) but I think weighing myself and then feeling that those  last days didn't count towards this process wasn't the best. So that's why my goal is to not weigh myself until Friday. It keeps me motivated the whole week instead of letting up early because I had a good weigh in earlier. I'm really hoping to hit 10 lbs so I can treat myself to that new sports bra and possibly these pretty new pants too. I'm a bit sick of doing laundry every few days just because I ran out of pants!

the blouse that goes with everything

Alternative title: all of my favorite things in one outfit

That blouse from Loft that I reviewed last week finally came in in the size medium and it's perfect! I'm so glad I got the exchange because it is such a beautiful shirt (and so comfortable!). I highly recommend it if you are looking for a versatile top for the spring - you can wear it with a blazer like I did here (which, btw, is currently on major sale! see my review here for sizing), alone with jeans, tucked into a skirt - basically, it'll be the most versatile item in your closet. You really can't go wrong with a white lace top!

I wore this out to dinner with CR and our favorite couple last weekend. It's crazy knowing that in three months, the little life we have built up here will be gone again. I think that's the thing they don't tell you about medical school - you may have to rebuild your life every few years. I'm so excited for my friends as they move close to Philadelphia, but I'm so sad I won't get to see them every week. Luckily they'll live in such a great city, so we see lots of trips in our future!

Blouse: Loft [exact on sale]

Blazer: J.Crew [exact on sale]

Pants: 7 For All Mankind [exact]

Shoes: Tory Burch c/o Shopbop [save | similar | exact]

Clutch: Clare V [save | exact]

Watch: c/o Daniel Wellington [exact - use code FRANZISKA to save 15%]

And of course, Loft is having another sale (...because when are they not?) that includes 30% off tops, pants, and skirts. Here are a few of my favorites - that ruffled blouse though, right?! I love!

one | two | three

four | five | six

how to: do an at-home manicure

There are some things I pay the professionals for - threading, waxings, and coloring my hair are definitely left to people who know better than I do. I am more than willing to pay someone else to work their magic on my hair every few months. But I have never been one of those girls who gets a manicure every other week. I find the process of going to nail salon tedious, especially if you have to do it every 14 days! But because I love my nails to be painted, I have my own methods of giving myself an at home manicure. It saves me so much time and money in the long run, and I even like the results from doing it myself more than when I do get my nails done professionally! Here's my step by step guide of how I do my nails.

Here's what we're starting with. I think this is about 2.5 weeks old. If it wasn't for the fact that I was doing a lot of work around the house, I think the nail polish would have held up even longer.

top three [02.19.2017]

my favorite item from this week's review

medicine

• The first x-ray ever taken was of the inventor's wife's hand. She was so disturbed by this that she later said "I have seen my death". The inventor's name was Wilhelm Roentgen. The German word for x-ray is Roentgen bild, which literally means Roentgen's picture!
• The term "radial mastectomy" sounds, well radical. Rather than the definition that we know as "far fetching", it is actually based off of the Latin meaning of "root" - this is because the surgery was to attack the cancer at its root, at the time thought to the be the pectoralis major (the muscle in your chest). 
• The abuse of antibiotics is something that we discuss almost on a daily basis, no matter what rotation I am on. Antibiotic resistance is a real problem, which is why your doctor won't prescribe you an antibiotic if they believe you have a virus. Last month, a woman in Nevada died because her infection was resistant to every antibiotic allowed for treatment in the US. 

on the internet

• Krista shares her tips for having an organized closet. I agree and live by all her rules too!
• Love this casual and sporty look on AJ!
• Did you see Kendi's great news? As one of my longest reads, and personal style icon, I'm so excited for her!

spotted

• I don't wear dresses to work as much as I thought I would...but that doesn't stop me from day dreaming about wearing this adorable tweed dress all spring long. It even has full short sleeves!
• Have you noticed I take a really long time to decide to try something new? I love the slip on sneaker trend, but somehow keep hesitating to try some. Target has a really cute pair though, and for that price, I feel it's about time!
• I actually really love Old Navy's sports bras, and my favorite kind just came out in this gorgeous floral print. Wouldn't that look so cute peaking out from under a black tank?

throwback to

• A post about how I own several designer items while on a budget. 
• Fran versus fur: Lucy edition
• That time we all had bubble tea in Seattle (also, woof those outfit pictures)

ask me anything

• What kind of bike shoes do you have? Do you like them? Thinking of getting a clip in pair for my spin bike but I'm not even sure where to start looking/what to look for...?
• I got a pair of Shimano shoes on Amazon. I honestly just clicked through a bunch of them and read the reviews, and based on that, purchased that pair. I do have high arches, so I put insoles in to make them more comfortable. A lot of the women at my spin class wear the Shimano brand shoes, so I feel they are a pretty good place to start looking! I know that there are stores that also sell spin shoes, so if you have something like that near you, that would be helpful too. If you ride at a studio, ask your instructor! Ours has an agreement with a local shoe store that if you tell them you ride at our studio, you'll get a discount. Don't forget that when you buy spin shoes, they usually don't come with the actual clip - you have to buy that part separate. 
• Would love to hear any pointers you have on making friends after college. I graduated and moved to an entirely different state (which I know you did too), and am having such trouble finding friends!
• Girl, I feel you on that. I've been struggling with that since I graduated college because most of my college friends moved away after graduation, and then of course I'm now currently living in Ohio with not much support here for the time being. For me currently, going to work out classes has really given me the chance to meet new people. I don't bring my phone in with me before class, so you're really forced to interact with people more. I also linked to this post a few weeks ago written by another blogger who had some great tips!
• I'm going to the beach for an "adult spring break" in April, and want to add a few fun pieces for the trip. Any suggestions? It's going to be very low key!
• I'm going on one of those too!! Where are you going? We will be down in Gulf Shores, and I can't wait! For those kind of vacations, you really want to be as comfortable as possible. I pack jean shorts (mine are from Rag & Bone, but Old Navy always has a similar style), loose tops (just got my hands on this beauty!). a flowy cover up (inexpensive versions from Amazon do the trick,  or if you're feeling spendy, Shopbop has so many pretty versions), a dress you can wear day or night (I always go for a black version because I'm predictable), a fun hat for the beach, and then dressier sandals (I just really want this pair because hello, how gorgeous are those) and Birkenstocks. These vacations are more about enjoying the ocean and the company rather than taking millions of pictures for facebook, so I hope you have a great trip!

on franish

• on the blog: a review of my Apple watch (ps. it's on sale for 25% off!)
• on the instagram: exploring our NE Ohio cities :)
• on the twitter: "but I'm almost 30!"

notable sales

• Anthropologie: 40% off sale items
• How precious are these striped sleeping shorts? I love that little lemon! 
• I am so tempted by this off the shoulder sweater...but then I don't know what the point is of having a sweater that doesn't cover your shoulders? And what do you even wear under neath that? Much too complicated. 
• Not complicated is how fun this mauve colored dress is - I love that it looks almost a bit scandalous until you realize it has a nude slip underneath!
• Express: 40% off everything
• You guys - what do we think about this white pleated dress for engagement pictures? I kind of love it! But it's thin strapped, which I kind of hate...
• Nothing I like more than a loose sweater that hits you in all the right spots. Black or grey? 
• Nows the time to get your hands on my favorite pair of pants - I agree with the reviews saying that they run really large, so size down!
• Nordstrom's Winter Sale
• Lower heel, cute cut outs, and a color that goes with everything?! Yes, please!
• For those of you looking for a lady-like winter coat, I feel this Kenneth Cole version should be a contender. Plus it comes in classic black and a fun bright blue!
• Is this the blush scarf I've been looking for? For $12, we're about to find out!
• Shopbop sale section pieces: quite a good selection of Loeffler Randall items, lots of Kate Spade work totes, and everything that WAYF makes is so pretty!

at home

• We are in the double digits!! 98 days left until graduation. I can hardly stand it, I am so excited! In an education that is 1399 days long, the last 100 are so so sweet ;)
• In celebration, CR and I played Mario Kart and Super Mario Brothers almost all of Saturday (in between going on long walks with the dogs in this beautiful weather!). Nothing brings a couple together like trying to out race each other in a video game...or maybe nothing tears you apart? Either way, it's been really fun to have something to play together!
• Are you guys having as amazing weather as we are? It's 60 degrees today! I don't want to brag if you're stuck under three feet of snow...but it's pretty darn beautiful here :)

healthyish, vol. 8

Earlier this week, I was somewhat doubting this process. This is my eighth week of committing to this lifestyle, and I think it's easy to get discouraged when you don't see instant results. Coupled with last week's increase in weight, I was a bit just like...will this work? I know that the exercise has been so great for me mentally, and I feel less bloated the mornings after I had healthier meals the day before, but I wasn't sure if that was enough. I only weigh myself once a week because I find the day to day fluctuations frustrating, so when I finally weighed myself yesterday, I was very excited to see that I was down 2.4 lbs from last week, or 1 lb down from before Montreal. I guess I just need to trust the process and know that I'm not doing this the "instant result" way, but slowly and steadily working towards my goal!

exercise: 

Monday: 1 hour spin class

Wednesday: 1 hour spin class

Thursday: 45 minute spin class

Saturday: 1 hour spin class

diet:

I accidentally deleted most of the pictures of food I made this week, but it was a delicious week for sure. For breakfasts I made either a chicken sausage omelette or a banana smoothie. On Wednesday when I had to be in the OR by 7 AM, I got a power breakfast sandwich with double eggs from Panera - it kept me full all morning! For lunches this week I had zoodles with chicken sausage, a chicken fajita dish CR made, left over pulled pork, and a chicken sausage. Dinners included a delicious beef kabob dish on Monday with this amazing cinnamon rice that I allowed myself to eat about a third of, burgers and sweet potato fries for a quick Valentine's Day dinner, a new recipe from Goodful, and pulled pork + vegetables from our favorite BBQ place (I used to get the cheesey potatoes, so baby steps over here!). Snacks included eggs, a few Kind bars, and carrots. CR got me macaroons for Valentine's Day, so I had one of those a day! 

goals:

Last week's goals: 

• Do one weight lifting work out: this didn't happen. I had it planned for yesterday, but my body just felt really tired, so I napped instead. Sometimes you gotta listen to your body!
• Try a new recipe for lunches: done! I had a fajita dish for lunches, and tried out this zoodle recipe on Thursday.
• Stay away from the discounted chocolate aisle: done!

This week's goals:

• Go to 1 Pure Barre class
• Hit a new PR for calories burned at spin
• Make a new recipe with cauliflower rice

treats:

We went out for Italian last night - I had a great glass of Riesling, had a few pieces of bread, and a plate of chicken tortellini. So good!

weigh in: - 2.4 lbs (total: - 6.8 lbs)

reviews: a few good finds and a few good laughs

When we came back from Montreal a week and a half ago, there were several packages waiting for me at the door (the best kind of welcome home present!). A few of them turned out to be great...and a few others were sent back immediately. 

Let me get this out of the way for everyone:

HAHAHAHAHAH

Okay, hear me out on this shirt. Online, it looks super cute. The ruffle didn't seem as overwhelming, the fit was better, and it looked very much less Amish. On me? HAHAHAHA. I could not stop laughing at myself wearing this shirt because it looked so ridiculous on me. I actually think the shirt is still pretty cute, and I bet on the right person it would be perfect under a blazer with some ripped jeans. The reviews actually are all pretty positive, so maybe this is more of a "me" thing rather than a "shirt" thing. For sizing reference if anyone has fallen in love with this blouse, I'm wearing a large.

apple watch review: fitness tracking, using at the hospital, and more!

For my birthday last year, CR got me an Apple Watch. When he had first brought up getting me one, I wasn't really sold on the idea. While I have just about every other Apple product out there, I never had a really big need for the Apple Watch. After all, my phone is normally no more than an arms reach away from me!

It's been almost five months now, and boy have my opinions changed! I'm obsessed with my Apple watch! I wear it just about every day, and I keep learning new things about it all the time. Since I've been using it to keep track of my work outs and sharing those on snapchat (@fhasselhof for those of you not following along), I've had a ton of people ask questions about it. So today's post is all about what I have, what I use it for, my favorite Apple watch accessories,  and the few downfalls compared to other smart watches/fitness trackers.

What I own:

I have the 42 mm original Apple watch in gold (also called the aluminum sports watch). CR found a great deal on it right before my birthday (right after the Series 2 came out), and ended up getting it for under $200. Target actually has a similar deal right now if you've had your eye on getting the Series 1 (which is basically identical to mine) - the 38 mm version is $199 (that's 25% off the original price) and the 42 mm is $229 ($70 off the original price). As a taller person, I like having the larger face because I feel it's more proportional to my body, although I don't think there's too much of a difference functionality wise between the two sizes.

There are several differences between the original & Series 1 watch, and the Series 2 watch. The original and Series 1 are splash proof but not water proof - if you are a big swimmer and want to use the Apple watch for that, the Series 2 would be a better option. If you are a big outside runner and want a watch that has GPS built in, the Series 2 again would be a better option. If instead you are like me and take a lot of inside classes or work out in the gym, want a way to track your steps, receive your emails and texts quickly, and all the other things I use my watch for as described below, then the Series 1 gives you everything you need without spending $400.

What I use it for:

• Fitness tracking: This is obviously a big one for me right now. I use the Work Out app for each work out - it tells you how long you've been working out, active and total calories burned, and current heart rate. I especially like the heart rate feature because it keeps me motivated during my work outs to stay in a certain zone. Of course the wrist heart rate is not as accurate as a chest band would be, but for what I'm doing, it works very well! I also use the calories burned as a motivator throughout my work out - I basically try to get a PR during every work out! I like that the Activities app is now on my phone, because that's where I can see how my work outs for the month! In October I worked out 5 times, but in January I exercised 17 times - seeing those hours I spent improving my body has been very rewarding and a push to keep up with the work outs! In addition, the pedometer feature has also changed some of my daily habits. I purposely walk more now that ever before just because I like to see how many miles I walked every day! I don't take the rolly things at the airport, we very purposely went on long walks while on vacation, and I park further away from stores now. Those are all little things that add up for sure. For those of you who are doing BBG, there is also a BBG app for the Apple Watch! I'm starting back up with BBG next month, and will see how well the app works for the work outs. 
• Quick email and text checks: For those of you who work in the medical field, you know how important it is to not have your phone out all the time while on the wards. Especially as a student, it's considered pretty rude to take your phone out every time it buzzes. I love that now my watch buzzes whenever I get an email/text, and a quick flick of my wrist shows me if it's something that needs immediate attention or can wait for a more appropriate time. This was vital during interview invite season - every time my phone buzzed, I knew I needed to check it (interview dates would fill up very quickly, so emails and phone calls needed to be answered as quickly as possible). This way I wasn't on my audition rotations, constantly checking my phone, but still staying connected to my emails and phone calls. 
• Calendar updates: CR and I have a joint Google calendar where we put all of appointments. Google calendar also syncs with a lot of other apps and websites - it automatically adds my work outs, flights, and Air BnB rentals. I have my watch set up so that the Calendar is on the face of it, so I can always see what's happening that day. 
• Travel: Most airline phone apps also have Apple watch apps - I know for sure that Delta, American Airlines, and JetBlue have watch apps. Some are better than others - JetBlue's allows you to have your boarding pass on your watch, American Airline's does not. But all of them keep synced with the phone app, so it'll tell you when and where your airplane is, and if your gate changes or the flight is delayed. We also used the Maps app while we were in Montreal - I typically have it turned off when I'm driving, but for walking, it was great because I wouldn't have to have my phone out when we were navigating the streets, my phone would just buzz when we had to make a turn!
• Apple pay: This is one I use depending on what rotation I'm on - I don't use Apple Pay in most of my day to day life, but I have worked at some hospitals where the cafeteria uses Apple Pay, so I would use it every day on those rotations! All you have to do is hold your wrist up to machine, and you're good to go! This is definitely a great part about the Apple watch if you are a daily Apple Pay user. 
• Finding my phone: You know how much time I've wasted in my life walking around my house looking for my phone, only to find it in  my back pocket? Probably more hours than I care to admit. The Apple watch has a "ping my iPhone" feature on the little home screen and I use it constantly. Now I have so much more time on my hands! ;)

My favorite accessories:

• Watch bands: My watch came with a blue band, which is fine, which I ended up changing out for this white band I got on Amazon. The bands from Apple cost like $50, which I don't think it worth it at all. The Amazon version has held up very well, and you can basically not tell the brand name band apart from the knock off version (see the first picture above). I also received a metal link watch for Christmas, which I love to wear on days that I'm wearing professional clothes (it's also really fun to play with!). My next band will be a leather band (I'm thinking this black one, or possibly this cognac version. We'll see!). 
• Charging station: I love my little charger station because it not only keeps your charger in one place, but it guarantees your watch stays on the charger rather than slipping off. There are a ton of versions out there - I think this one from XXX is really cute too!
• Keychain charger: I go on a lot of short 2-3 day trips, and I try to bring as little with me as possible on those. CR's parents got me this keychain charger, and it's been amazing for these shorter trips! I keep it on my little zip case that I always have with me either for traveling or at work,

Downfalls: 

• Needs to be charged daily: I got CR a Garmin HR Vivoactive for Christmas this past year, and he can go almost a whole week without charging it! Mine, on the other hand, needs to be charged every 36 hours or so. I don't wear mine to sleep (although I know it does have a sleep monitoring feature), so I just charge it overnight. It takes about two hours to fully charge. I don't think this is really that big of a downfall, just in comparison to other smart watches, it sucks up a lot more battery. 
• Has to be near your phone: The Apple watch is really just an extension of your phone for the most part, so to get a lot of the phone functions (emails, texts, internet), your phone has to be within 30 feet of your phone. My phone is almost always near me, so not a big deal either, but worth mentioning that you can't use your Apple watch for most of it's phone functions away from your phone. 
• Doesn't have GPS: This is another downfall for those of you who are big runners. CR's watch has a GPS feature, so he can go out on a run without his phone, and his phone knows exactly where he is, and shows him the map of his run on his phone afterwards. My phone does not do that. The Series 2 watch does do that though, so if that would be an important feature for you, got with the Series 2. 

Watches on sale!

Like I said, Target currently has the Series 1 on sale for about 25% off of the original price, so if you were interested in a watch, you are unlikely to get one much cheaper than this any time soon! I recommend going with the metal color you wear most - the straps can be exchanged for any other kind of strap you want!

gold: 38 mm | 42 mm (the one I have)

silver: 38 mm | 42 mm

black: 38 mm | 42 mm

rose gold: 38 mm | 42 mm

top three [02.12.2017]

all black, all the time ( outfit one, two, and three!)

medicine

• A few weeks ago, a study came out that researchers had created a human-pig embryo, in hopes of being able to some day grow human organs to be harvested for donation. The article linked also discusses a lot of the ethical concerns that come with this type of research, which I found extremely interesting.
• Another study that came out shows that cervical cancer is a bigger threat than was being initially reported. Older statistics included women who have had hysterectomies - but since those women don't have a cervix, they can't get cervical cancer. With those women removed from the data, death from cervical cancer has a much higher rate that previously stated. This is your friendly reminder that if you are due for you Pap smear, please call your doctor and set up an appointment. No one should die from cervical cancer. 
• One of the first successful surgeries to remove a gallbladder was performed by a surgeon named William Halsted, who performed the surgery on his mother on their kitchen table. Oh the 1800s...

on the internet

• Katrina is a fellow vintage Coach lover, so I loved reading her tips on how to restore a worn vintage purse. I had to do a major overhaul on mine when I first got it, but I'm going to use Katrina's tips to spruce mine up again.
• I've never really had a deep desire to go to Thailand, but after reading Dani's post about the month (!) they spent there, I'm ready to book my tickets! What an amazing adventure they had.
• Cortney shares common fashion blogger misconceptions - I thought this was such a fun read!  

spotted

• I have a feeling that this flirty dress from re:named is going to be this spring's it dress...it's under $75, so get it while it's still available!
• Perfect for this upcoming week (but really, I'd wear them all year long) are these adorable shoes from Ellen DeGeneres's line. Who knew Ellen made such cute shoes?!
• My chambray blazer is one of my favorite items in my closet. J.Crew now has a similar version - look at that amazing ruffle! I love it. 

ask me anything

• How do you budget for everyday life? I've seen your clothing budget posts, but I was wondering what you do for groceries, makeup etc...
• My method of budgeting may be different than yours because I live on student loans, so I get my money twice a year instead of every other week like people who work do. So what I do is that when my loan check comes, I put money into a bunch of different savings accounts. I calculate roughly how much my bills are each month (car +  rent + phone + gas & electric), and put that plus a little extra into my "Bills" account. Then I give myself $150 every two weeks to spend on groceries, gas, and fun things. That money is automatically transferred to my checking every two weeks, and that's what I'm allowed to spend. The rest of the money goes into a savings account for when I need it - like when my tires need to be replaced or when I have to pay to take another $1200 test. I also earn money from blogging, but because that income is so variable, I can't rely on it every month to live on (which is why I take out loans). My blogging money is what I use for my clothing budget, and then used to pay off some of the interest on my loans, and then mostly put into various other savings accounts - one for taxes (since it's not taxed when I receive it), a house fund, a travel fun, and a wedding fund. I'm looking forward to next year when I no longer have to take out loans, and when I finally start making a real income again - right now my finances are always up in the air!
• I am having the hardest time finding a true winter coat that works for me. Something that will work for colder temperatures, casual or dressier outfits. Two musts, must be lined because I can't stand how unlined coats "stick" and must be able to layer of a sweater. I thought the J. Crew chateau parka was the one but the arms are too tight and it is size up the body is much too large do to the style of the coat. Any thoughts?
• I definitely know where you are coming from - I find winter coats to be one of the hardest things to shop for! I found a few cute options. The first one, and one my favorites, is this interesting Lauren Ralph Lauren coat. I love the front buckles because they are unique without being weird, and I think the style works well both for casual and more professional outfits. Ellen Tracy also makes a coat that works well for both occasions, and comes in both more neutral colors and a fun green. Lastly, I always love the look of toggle coats, and so Tommy Hilfiger's version would be a good option too! I of course have to mention my recent winter coat purchase too (seen here) - it may be too casual depending on how professionally dressed you have to be, but I have fairly bigger arms and I was able to easily layer underneath it!
• I want to get my boyfriend a new watch for Valentine's day. What do you recommend?
• I love gifting watches! I got CR one a few years ago that he wears almost daily. Ones that are currently available that I love are Skagen's simple and traditional watch, Armani Exhcange's version is great if you are looking for a metallic watch, and of course my favorite, Daniel Wellington makes gorgeous watches that are for him but you can occasionally steal back for yourself (use code FRANZISKA to save 15%!).

on franish

• on the blog: 9 steps towards healthier hair
• on the instagram: <3 all the heart things!
• on the twitter: oh la la, clogs! ;)

at home

• I'm on my way home from a quick trip down to Atlanta! My best friend is doing a rotation at the CDC, and since we haven't seen each other for a few months, this was a perfect excuse! Thank you so much for all of your suggestions! We spent Saturday going to a spin class together, going to brunch, exploring Ponce City Market, walking the belt line, going out for pizza, and having just general girl time. Atlanta was such a fun place to visit, and definitely on my list of places I hope to come back to to explore further. It seems like such a fun, vibrant, and delicious city to be in! 
• It was my first week back on rotations - I'm doing ObGyn with a private attending for the month. It's definitely been interesting to see how difference physicians and groups work, and gives me a better idea of what kind of practice I see myself (hopefully) working in in four years! 
• Posts coming up this week: a review of my apple watch (ps. they are currently $70 off!!), a how to for an at home manicure, and what we did in Montreal!.

healthyish, vol. 7

This week we mostly went back to normal life, which means getting back into regular eating and exercising (well, at least more normal than last week!). I started a new rotation, so it was all about meal prepping and bringing enough snacks for the day so I don't lose it on my way home and make a pit stop for cheeseburgers (which lets be honest, has definitely happened). I also stuck to my goal of only drinking water, which was surprisingly harder than I thought! I don't drink much alcohol anyway, or really any juice or milk,  so it wasn't that, but more just wanting a latte or diet coke throughout the week - I had real cravings! I never realized how reliant I am on those drinks until I very purposely didn't drink anything but water. I don't intend to do that all the time, but maybe once a month it could be a good habit to get in to!

exercise:

Sunday: 45 minutes/ 150 flights on the stair master (a new calorie PR for the stair climber!)
Monday: 1 hour spin
Wednesday: 1 hour spin
Thursday: 1 hour spin
Saturday: 45 minutes Flywheel

diet:

I was definitely more on track this week with the diet, besides two meals that weren't exactly on the plan. On Sunday we watched the Super Bowl with our friends, so of course we indulged a little, although I tried to eat mostly just the cowboy caviar that I made. On Tuesday, we took my sister to this speciality hot dog place for her last meal with us, so I had a delicious hot dog and a side of mac and cheese. Other than that, meals were on track! For breakfast I had either omelettes or banana peanut butter shakes. For lunch, I made chicken sausages with a side of squash and zucchini. Dinners were BBQ chicken lettuce wraps when we were in Cleveland (so proud I made myself switch out the tortillas), a Chipotle burrito bowl, and homemade vegetarian chili. Snacks included hard boiled eggs (on the days I didn't have eggs in the morning), hippeas, and an apple with peanut butter.

goals:

Last week's goals:

    - Drink only water this week: done! Harder than I thought, but did it!

    - Pack a lunch + snacks for every work day: mostly done - we got a drug rep lunch on Thursday, but I got a salad so I'll let it slide

    - Work out four times: five times! 💪

This week's goals:

    - Do one weight lifting work out

    - Try a new recipe for lunches

    - Stay away from the discounted chocolate aisle

treats:

I'm in Atlanta visiting my best friend as she does a rotation with the CDC, so I'm sure we'll find a treat or two ;)

weigh in: +1.4 lbs (-4.4 total)

When I first weighed myself, I was initially disappointed. Then I remembered that a week ago, we basically ate our way through Montreal. So if I had weighed myself last Saturday, I bet you have lost weight from that point, rather than it looking like I gained that weight in this week of exercising and eating well. So I'm slightly up from two weeks ago, but I know that in another week, we'll be back on our way down! I actually felt a litle thinner this week, so even though the scale isn't showing it, I feel better already!

it's still winter, y'all

Although much of the blogosphere is currently all "yay spring look at all these off the shoulder dresses!"...it's still very much winter around here! We actually just got three more inches of snow yesterday...

But that means I get to show you guys my amazing new coat! I actually forgot to mention this purchase in my last budget post, but that's because it ended up costing me just a few dollars out of pocket! I've been eyeing up Burberry's coat for a few months, and finally decided to order it...only to send it immediately back. It felt so cheap, and for that price, I do not want my coat to feel like it's from Forever 21. Then I stumbled upon this similarly styled coat from Cole Haan for half the price. With a little patience, it finally went on sale, and with Nordstrom notes saved up and a giftcard, it ended up costing me like $10 out of pocket.

And guys...this coat is amazing. I wore this on our trip to Montreal (where these pictures were taken) and it was perfect. I was very comfortable in the 10 degree weather wearing just this coat and my medium thickness sweater underneath it. I love that it's belted because it gives it a bit more shape (I wear it tied in a bow as you can see below). Even though all the cool girls in Montreal were wearing these complete fur hoods (I've never seen anything like them! Is this a thing everywhere or only in Canada?), I love that this has just a bit of faux fur right where you want it most - around your actual neck! I'm wearing a size large, and I find it fits true too size. If you are interested, I actually found the coat for more than half the price that Nordstrom is selling it for, here at Macy's and here at 6 PM.

Coat: Cole Haan [exact]

Pants: Express [exact]

Sweater: Caslon [exact]

Boots: Vince Camuto [similar below]

Apple watch strap: Amazon [exact]

Hat: similar

And because my black boots are four winters in and badly need to be replaced (there's a hole in one side of the boot and they no longer stay up on my legs), here are eight options that are currently on sale! Which ones are your favorite? I think I like the pair from Jessica Simpson the most!

one | two | three | four

five | six | seven | eight

beauty tuesday: nine steps towards healthier hair

About 18 months ago, my hair got accidentally chopped off. I went in for a trim, and for some reason, I left the salon with about seven fewer inches than I walked in with. I...cried. I really was upset! I feel like I am always growing out my hair, and I was almost at the length I wanted...and then some guy cut it all off. Since then, I've been back in the growing out phase, but I went into it trying to grow out healthy hair. Looking through pictures, my hair is now about the same length but it looks and feels so much healthier than it did then! Here's what I've done differently in that time:

1. Washed my hair less: This has probably made the biggest difference over the past couple of years. A few years ago, I was still washing my hair every other day, if not every day! Horrible -between the shampoo, toweling, and all those hot tools, that puts so much strain on your hair! It definitely takes a bit of time to get your hair used to going from frequent washings to less frequent, but it's so worth it in the end. I now save all that time I used to spend drying and styling my hair, and my hair is in much better shape! I've used a ton of different dry shampoos over the years - my current favorites are the Living Proof dry shampoo (duh, you guys already knew that) and the Aveda Shampure. 
2. Treat while you sleep: The Living Proof Overnight Cap is kind of a genius idea, if you think about it. I personally don't love putting on a hair mask in shower all the time because you have to stand around forever for it to work. This is great because you put it on at night before going to bed, and it does the work overnight while you sleep! I slap it on (focusing on the ends), put my hair into a loose bun, and go to sleep. In the morning you just rinse it out! I use this about once every other week (I typically wash my hair at night after a work out)
3. Use less sulfates: A couple of years ago, I made the switch to using L'oreal's sulfate-free shampoo. I had tried a couple of different sulfate-free shampoos, but most of them didn't give you that good lather (I just like feeling like my hair is getting cleaned!), but L'oreal's does, which is why it's one of my favorites. Since sulfates dry out your hair, and strip your hair of color if it's dyed like mine is, not using sulfates in shampoo makes a big difference! If you are willing to spend a bit more money, Aveda also has a great damage remedy shampoo that gives you a good lather (and smells great!). 
4. Deep condition: I have been using this intensive restructuring treatment from Aveda for about six years now. I first started using it when I got a perm in college (yikes...not cute on me!), and recently re-committed myself to using it. It's fairly pricy, so I use my normal conditioner on the rest of my hair, and use the treatment on my problem areas (my wispies and my ends). Typically I use this when I'm shaving my legs, since I'm standing around in the shower anyway!
5. Use a hair towel: I don't remember where I first learned about hair towels, but they are definitely a game changer for me! I like my hair to mostly dry before I use a hair dryer, but when using a regular towel and partially air drying, my hair just got really frizzy. Using a hair towel has made my hair dry more evenly and quicker than it was before, plus it's a lot thinner than a normal towel, so it's less of a pain to carry around on your head! The one I'm currently using is from Aquis (I got it on Amazon), but I also just received this one in my PopSugar Must Have box that I'm going to try out next (ps. if you want to save $5, use code SHOP5 for your first box!)
6. Protect from the heat: I've tried a bunch of different heat protectors over the years, but I keep sticking with Kiehl's smoothing cream. I love that it is a styling cream and a heat protector, and doesn't leave my hair crunchy like heat protecting sprays I've used in the past. 
7. Better tools = less overall heat: I used inexpensive curling irons for most of my life - I figured, they all heat up and curl your hair, what's the difference. Then I got my hands on a T3 iron, and wow...I'm a believer now. The curling iron is expensive, for sure. But because it holds its heat so well, my hair curls quicker (less time on the iron) and the curls last longer (less re-curling). I used one of my old irons a few days ago, and couldn't believe the difference. Eventually I'd love to also own a nicer hair dryer, but we'll have to keep saving for that one for a little bit!
8. Biotin Biotin Biotin: When I got home from that hair chop, I immediately went online and ordered a huge bottle of biotin. For some people, biotin makes hair and nails grower quicker and thicker, and for some people it doesn't do anything at all. I'm somewhere in the middle - my hair and nails definitely grow at a quicker pace when I'm taking the biotin (which is almost annoying because I don't like when my nails grow quickly). I get the gummies because I don't like taking pills, and it's like a little treat every time you get to take them! Some people have noted that they have issues with acne when they start taking biotin, so if you haven't taken it before, just be warned. 
9. Use gentler methods of pulling your hair back: Nothing pulls your hair out of your hair quicker than a rubber band. I still use a regular hair tie when I work out, but other than that, I stick with clips and scrunchies (a scrunchie?!). I love the little clips during the day, big alligator clips at home and when styling my hair, and a scrunchie or invisibobble at night or in the shower. They are all a lot more gentle on your hair than a regular hair tie, and that makes a big difference in the long run if you use a hair tie every day. 

And for a bit of proof, here's a bit of a hair timeline. The left picture is a few weeks before my hair cut, the middle picture is the week after, and the right picture is from a few months ago!