Blue Stripes & Pink Clutch

It's been a rather whirlwind week as D came back home! He arrived a day early while I was eating with my good guy friend, B at Uchi's. I was a bit torn between catching up with B and wanting to rush over to see D asap as he's been gone twice as long as was originally expected; however, I finished out the delicious dinner with B and watched an episode of HIMYM (How I Met Your Mother) at his apartment before meeting up with my boyfriend.  

If you haven't eaten at Uchi's, I highly recommend it! I will definitely have a post shortly about the yummy foods we tried out! Not only was it a great eating experience, it was an equally exceptional dining experience (i.e. service was top rate!).

Cardigan :: Forever 21

Top :: H&M

Bottoms :: Abercrombie & Fitch

Shoes :: Ann Taylor

Bag :: Proenza Schouler

Belt :: J.Crew

Bag fetish like Mommy!

If you don't know this already, I adore my Kchan. I don't exactly spoil her rotten though my mom likes to protests otherwise. Most people who don't like cats; however, don't mind Kchan. A few that don't have any real fondness for felines really really like Kchan. I guess it's because even though she's a cat, she acts quite like a dog in some respects?

Early on, I reinforced good behavior in her. I don't let her scratch people or furniture (she has her specific carpets and scratching toys); I don't let her bite; I don't let her whine and get what she wants, unless she's politely reminding me to feed her before I leave for work!

What I noticed (which may or may not be true of all pets) is that Kchan resembles me in a lot of ways. She's mellow, likes to get her way but isn't too petulant when she doesn't, and she's definitely nice to you when she wants something... LOL. And she has a bit of a bag fetish...

Pretty in Pink & Linen Shorts

Thanks for all your kind words in the last post (when I was talking about doctors being humans too!), I really appreciate it! It's been a rather tough week or so as D has been off traveling the world again on business and he's had to stay longer than expected. The entire time we've been together, it's been one thing after another. I suppose all that we've been through has brought us closer, but I wish things could be easier and we could have some normalcy (he agrees frankly).

As with all couples, we have our issues but as I've grown older (and matured), I've learned to communicate how I feel. I try not to tell my boyfriend what to do, what to think, what to feel... he should want to do what he does for me because he wants to. That said, despite the difficulties, I'm glad he asked me for my number!

Cardigan :: Staring at Stars from Urban Outfitters

Top :: Sparkle & Fade from Urban Outfitters

Bottoms :: Free People

Shoes :: Free People

Bag :: Proenza Schouler

Doctors are Humans Too!

On my way to work, as I drive an average of about 60 miles round trip, I think about a lot of nothing and sometimes ideas of substance. I think about what I did wrong at work, what I can do better, about how I find myself frustrated at my patients and how they don't understand that I am not a robot --- I have feelings too like them because I'm human too.

Driving by industrial plants on the way to clinic.

Busy, busy weekend!

My boyfriend, D left again for another business trip this weekend and I was left to my own devices... where I caught up with an old guy friend, A on Saturday and had a lovely day of brunch and shopping on Sunday with S. My OOTDs were all various creations that you've already seen so this time I'll concentrate on FOOD (which I've sadly neglected!).

I'll start with Rattan, an Asian fusion restaurant and wine bar, where I feasted on a Kobe Beef Hot Dog! It was as good as A said it was going to be and definitely something I wouldn't mind having again. The meat was tasty without being too salty and was topped with a nice punch of onions and tomatoes on pretzel bread! 

lette macarons from LA

As you know, I'm dating D... and I guess with all that has happened in the several weeks we've been an item, I finally felt like his girlfriend when he brought me home a little something from LA. I had mentioned a time or two that what I miss most about NYC was being able to get macarons because they simply aren't available around where I live (at least the quality I'm used to). 

The macarons he brought back were really yummy. D surprised me by handing me a cute chartreuse gift box when I picked him up at the airport.  He was slightly bashful about it? Prefacing that he had gotten me these because they were supposedly the best in LA, but he didn't know how they'd compare to the ones I'd had in NYC.  Admittedly, I was a bit crabby because I'd had a trying weekend (and had just spent a small fortune to fly to my cousin's wedding at the end of June), so he's like "I'm going to open this and give you one and it'll make you feel better."

Ribbon tank & Kimono cardigan

This weekend has been pretty darn busy. I kicked start it by doing a 5k charity walk Saturday morning for NAMI (National Association for Mental Illness) where I raised $155. Then because it was hot and because I stupidly didn't drink enough water, I was dehydrated with a headache and pretty nauseated for several hours afterwards. I rested while waiting for S to finish up with all her volunteering commitments (I need to be more like her!) and originally she was going to meet up down where I live, but she finished so late and had had such a long day I drove to the Island to meet up with her instead. We ate dinner together and then went back to her condo for some girl talk!

That was the end of Saturday and I woke up extremely early on Sunday because I guess I'm just used to it. I had agreed to have beef noodle soup with W, a guy I had dated a while back but am still friends with. He recently moved into town and I had yet to hangout with him. We had a good time, caught up, and I got to see his new digs. His place is really nice and he seems quite settled in! Below is what I wore for lunch today and the top I wore the previous night with S. Still need to see A, a fellow co-res, for our "burger" time and then picking D up at the airport. What a busy, fun weekend!

Cardigan :: Splendid

Top :: J.Crew (here)

Bottom :: Forever 21

Shoes :: Lucky Brand

Bag :: Proenza Schouler

Gauze Pink & Navy Pants to work

Sometimes even better than finding a guy that's dateable is finding a girl worth being close friends with. I find it tough to venture outside the "girls I lunch with" as M calls it (she's my bestest) since I've been with them for the past 9 years and they are my core hangout group, but I've recently moved and while I'm not far away... it's far enough to make it difficult to spend as much time with them as I used to in the past. But I started a new rotation at the beginning of the month and made a new girlfriend. She's pretty amazing and I just want to say I'm glad I met her.

Below is my "work" OOTD and I have to say that S, my new girlfriend, dresses super cute as well for work! I know I don't post much work-related outfits, but that's because they are kind of uninspired, but S is making me realize there's no reason not to dress cute all the time even when there are work limitations.

Cardigan :: Gap 

Top :: Gap

Bottom :: Joseph

Shoes :: Joie

Bag :: J.Crew

Lace, Mint, & Navy Shorts

One of the best things about warmer weather is that you get to bring your shorts back out. I wore this outfit a week or so ago, but never got the opportunity to blog about it because work and life just got in the way. I really liked how colorful this outfit was for me, with the navy blue shoes, the mint tank, and the taupe-gold lace top. Somehow, it all worked out. Don't you think?

Top :: Forever 21 (Lace) and J.Crew (Tank)

Bottom :: Custom-made (by my mom!)

Shoes :: Tory Burch 

Bag :: Proenza Schouler

A Moment of Candor

I have wanted for some time to talk more about myself in an open manner. I recently read Paper Tigers by Wesley Yang and it got me thinking about myself, my peers, and our parent's generation. According to my mother, I have not been the ideal Asian daughter because it is not filial to talk back and to do what you truly want to do in life. I have tried my hardest to do what would please her the most, to the point of sacrificing what I wanted to be in life, but there is a point you reach where you cannot be yourself and be who your mother wants you to be. The two cannot be reconciled and I have learned there is this important division between my generation (first born ABCs) and my mother's (recent immigrants).

To my mother, when my family and her friends say that I am "too American," it is something to be ashamed of; but I cannot change the influences in my life, of being in America and of being Asian. I am, and so are those like me, stuck in this no man's land of being Asian the way your parents are and being American like everyone around you.

Pretty Floral Dress & Peach Clutch

I have mentioned D, the guy I'm dating, in a few of my posts. I thought I'd relate a little more background into our relationship since my OOTD was for him. We met at a meetup (where people with similar interests will get together) and I had no intention of dating anyone at the time, especially after a fairly brutal breakup I had recently. But D asked for my number and I gave it to him; then he asked me to hangout and I was all for it.

I don't think either of us expected anything really to materialize, as our first 1-on-1 was not a date, but we had amazing chemistry and... we found each other mutually interesting. Fast forward several weeks, we've become rather close, and every step and progression has been so natural. Despite the difficulties, me being in residency and him having a work schedule more time-consuming than mine -- it's worked out as well as you could expect anything to work out.

For his last night in town before flying off on another business trip (this is the second time in our time together) where he'll be gone anywhere from 2-3 weeks, I decided to dress up for him in a strapless floral dress and pair it with my new PS1 pochette.

Cardigan :: Pins and Needle from Urban Outfitters

Dress ::  Forever 21

Shoes :: Ann Taylor

Bag :: Proenza Schouler

Proenza Schouler Love

I have had a bit of an obsession with Proenza Schouler of late. I have never really splurged on a bag as much as I have these past 2 months with a PS1 medium in Saddle and a Pochette in Peach suede. You guys are all familiar with my PS1 as it's a frequent guest star in my OOTD, but you've yet to see my Pochette because I've never really owned a clutch before and I'm not sure what/when to wear it!

But I have to say, I adore it!

Peach twill & lace tunic

Today I went to my grandmother's grave. It's a well-known and well-observed holiday honoring the deceased for my ethnic background (Chinese/Vietnamese). My family and I go every year during this time to bring my grandmother her favorite foods, light incense and pray for her well-being, and burn paper money and gold so that she has everything she needs in her afterlife.

The day was beautiful -- bright and sunny and a little on the warm side -- so I dressed appropriately with an OOTD that wouldn't cause me to sweat underneath the hot rays.

Top :: Forever 21 & A|X

Bottom :: Forever 21

Bag :: Proenza Schouler

Shoes :: Toms 

Accessories :: Forever 21

Laura Mercier Lingerie Palette Review

Sometime in mid-January, before my vacation, I was looking for a travel friendly makeup palette that would be useable for spring and yet neutrally pretty at the same time. I'm not into bold, trendy colors because as a physician, I kind of need to look fresh and professional at all times. I've always liked Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer and was intrigued when I saw the colors for her Lingerie Eye and Cheek Palette. 

Laura Mercier :: Lingerie Eye and Cheek Palette (here)

Lace skirt & shirt

One of the best excuses for dressing up is when you get taken out on a date. When D came over this weekend, it was as good of a reason for thinking up an outfit to put together with my lace skirt. I decided to go a bit secretarial/librarian with a light blue 3/4 sleeve shirt because we were going to brunch and the skirt is a bit more "going out" than you'd want for an early Sunday. Add a slightly funky belt and we've got my OOTD!

Top :: Banana Republic

Bottom :: Forever 21

Belt :: Urban Outfitters

Bag :: Proenza Schouler 

Shoes :: Tahari

Spring purchases & Tiffany nails

I decided this weekend I needed to update my spring wardrobe, so where else to go but Forever 21? (H&M is coming soon and is very much needed down here!). I wasn't exactly sure what I was looking for, but I stumbled upon two fitted lace skirt in black and taupe. I really wanted the mint skirt, but alas they didn't have my size so I went from the two more neutral colors instead. If the mint had been available, I probably wouldn't have purchased the black. However, the mint and black are both online in all sizes though the taupe is gone...

Skirt :: Forever 21 (here)

S/P St. Patty's Day!

S/P = Status post and it means following or after... and it's a medical term we commonly use after surgical procedures and apt enough for it being the day after St. Patty's Day! I honestly didn't do all too much, which was kind of a let down. J was taking her Step 3 (something I need to get started on) and H is working this weekend. Sometimes, in a way, when I have nothing to do I'd rather be working... since I'm so used to working, even on weekends.

I was originally suppose to meet D, the guy I'm seeing for dinner/later in the night, but he ended up having to work then picking up the keys to his new house so that didn't go as expected. Things turned pretty good though, I called B, who is one of my closest guy friends and we hung out at his apartment for a couple hours before heading to Torchy's Tacos for dinner.

Everyone was dressed in some kind of green, except B, who was a bit grumpy because he was sore after a 30 mile bike ride this morning. I was fairly festive wearing my new mint green jeans and pairing it with some fun accessories, like my favorite watch and bag at the moment and polka dot flats!

Top :: Forever 21 (here)

Bottom :: Forever 21 (here)

Shoes :: Coach 

Bag :: Proenza Schouler (here)

Watch :: J.Crew (here)

Necklace :: David Yurman (here)

Ring :: David Yurman (similar) 

Colored jeans & burnout tee

It's sunny and bright outside and I'm more than a little under the weather. Even though I'm sick, I still go to work everyday (which seems counter-intuitive when you work in a hospital), but you have responsibilities as a doctor and your patients can't be put off until the next day. The only time where I actually took a sick day was when my flight came in at 3 am because of engine problems and only because I had already pre-warned my co-resident that I wasn't going to make it in the next day and he was prepared.

However, I still went out for drinks on Tuesday (which probably wasn't the best idea) because one of my med school friends was in town for vacation and was flying out the next day back to his residency program in Ohio. It was a good excuse to dress up in my new colored jeans though!

Top :: Forever 21 (here)

Bottom :: Forever 21 (here, similar)

Shoes :: Havianas (similar)

Bag :: Marc by Marc Jacobs (similar)

Blazer, shirt, & jeans on girls night

Some of the best times of my life is spending time with my girls, C, H, and J. We decided to meet for dinner and because we were going to Nippon, where parking is a pain, C and I met up at J's apartment to carpool to the place. H was with her brother and his gf, and they were going to meet us up later.

J is getting married soon and we've been helping her pick out things for her wedding and so I was helping out with her save the date. We decided a magnet would be a little different and unique, and J found a pretty good deal off a website, making it < $2 per. We were playing around with the features/templates/design when C arrived, then it was off to dinner!

Blazer :: Silence & Noise (here) 

Top :: J Crew

Bottom :: Gap

Shoes :: Frye (here)

Bag (forgot to picture) :: Proenza Schouler 

Olive slacks & gray tee to work

Clothes for work definitely aren't as fun for me as my outfits on the weekend, but more important than style is COMFORT (especially when I can be at work for up to 14 hours a day)! I try to wear stuff that I can sit in, walk in, lie down in and look professional in. So without further ado, here's my outfit of the day:

Cardigan :: Gap

Top :: Forever 21 (here)

Bottom :: Custom-made (by my mom!!!)

Shoes :: Nine West 

Bag :: Longchamp (here)

Watch :: J Crew (here)

Ring :: David Yurman (here)

Necklace :: Etsy 

The ridiculous Kchan!

Today was a pretty long day at the hospital compared to the other days, mainly because one of my consults was so zonked out from his cerebral arteriography that he couldn't answer any of my questions about his present medical history. Alas, we waited around for about two hours before calling it quits for the day and deciding we would try again tomorrow morning. We ended up ordering a series of relevant tests from the medical history that we could get from his caretaker, who unfortunately didn't know much and was generally a poor historian. The trials of medicine!

When I open the door, I come home to this:

Simple tee & jeans on a date

As I have gotten older, I have found that I feel more sure of what my style is, which is simple and clean. I like shopping at Urban Outfitters, J Crew, Loft, Banana Republic, and Forever 21 (and H&M, which will shortly be coming to a mall near me, thank goodness!). Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, and H&M are where I find my fun "weekend" clothes; whereas J Crew, Banana Republic, and Loft is where I get my work "weekday" essentials. I will certainly shop at other stores, but those are my mainstays.

This weekend I went to meet with a guy I'm seeing at Pinkberry for some yummy yogurt. I chose to be casual because of the location and I ended up wearing this:

Top :: Forever 21 (here)

Bottom :: Gap 

Shoes :: Coach 

Bag :: Proenza Schouler (here)

Mondays and it's time to meet Kchan!

I think most people dread Mondays. I'm not any different, although sometimes Mondays really aren't any different than Saturdays or Sundays, depending on my work schedule. There are times when Mondays are day 8 of 12 in a row. This Monday capped the end of my vacation and I definitely felt it when I woke up. I lazed around in bed for a good 5 minutes before finally getting up and getting ready. I've pretty much perfected the art of getting ready in 15 minutes tops before heading out to my car because I pre-pack my bag so I don't have to get up any earlier than I have to for the hospital.

Here she is... all ready to go! My trusty Longchamp Le Pliage in Large (Bilberry) decorated with a Chococat! (I adore cute and cute + cat = mine).

Brunch with the Girls

Today was one of my best girlfriend's birthday and what she wanted was to spend the day with us (her girlfriends). We started the day off by meeting at her house and then carpooling to brunch at Canopy. It was a very pretty, sunny day and we sat outside to enjoy the beautiful very spring-like weather. The food was good, we ordered poached egg, eggs sandwich, chicken salad, and topped off with a pitcher of blood orange mimosas to share.

Let's start with...

A simple introduction! My name is Holly and I'm a 1st year resident. My life has been pretty roller-coaster-ish for the last 8 months as I finished the first chunk of my intern year. Now I'm moving on and completing a few mandatory requirements before starting my 2nd year, where I'll get to dabble in a bunch of subspecialties to find my niche. I hope you'll join me on this journey, where I'll probably talk a little about work, a lot about fashion and food with a lot of pictures along the way!

I have to share my favorite nail polish at the moment: Willow by Zoya.