Back to School Bags!

I can't believe we are already approaching the start of another school year (thanks to the displays at stores for reminding me)!!

I've previously done a huge post on the most organized bags of almost all sizes and different price points - but today I wanted to share a few perfect school bags!

At the top of my list is this laptop bag - I'm a sucker for customer photos on Amazon and there are a few that would really sell me on it!! It's well structured and beautiful (but not so fancy that you'd be afraid to really use it as your everyday bag) and has some serious looking supportive straps! I also love the laptop sleeve and other pockets. I also like that while this bag doesn't have a zipper (easier to grab things out of while on the go), it also doesn't have one of those useless magnetic snap closures that doesn't do a thing once you've actually filled the bag! This clasp closure gets the job done! 

This bag came in at a close second - it's cheaper than the last one, but per reviews sounds like people really love it - for a college student on a budget (it's less than $50) I think this would be a great and reliable option! There are obviously even cheaper bags, but one thing I learned while always trying to save money (or more like not having enough money in the first place lol) was that even if I could find a super cute $25 bag from a store (I still am a sucker for Forever 21 finds!) - it wouldn't even last half a semester with the way I was using it! So if you can spend a tiny bit more for a more durable bag, I would. It doesn't mean you have to spend an arm and a leg! 

And I couldn't forget a backpack - it's a school classic and really is so convenient for carrying around all day! I fell in love with this one (it comes in other colors and patterns too) - it has a padded compartment for your laptop and then other pockets for everything else! Doesn't get better!

And as a relevant aside - I get asked all the time about notebooks vs ipad vs laptop for taking notes in class. I personally tended to be a paper and pen kind of girl and always preferred notebooks. But I think in college it's a little easier to organize things that way when you're studying a limited subject for a limited amount of time (a semester usually). Currently for dermatology residency, I actually almost exclusively use my iPad mini and the Evernote app. I still carry a small notebook with me too jot down things when I would otherwise feel uncomfortable pulling out my iPad, but those notes will later get thrown into my Evernote notes. I love this because your notes can actually be searchable - so when I hear something and know I've written something down about it before I don't have to flip through endless pages searching - I can just type in a keyword and find it in seconds! I think this is going to work better for dermatology where I'm studying the same (incredibly vast) subject for years. My laptop (a MacBook Air) definitely still comes along some days as I prefer it for doing blog posts and writing papers, etc. but sadly I've had way less time for that with all of the change in moving and learning a new field! But don't worry y'all I'll definitely be back to more regular posting soon! 

Hope you found this post helpful!

New Year, New You

Happy New Years Eve everyone!! It's hard to believe that 2015 is already coming to a close, it's been an amazing year - from moving, to finally graduating medical school and starting life as real doctor, and to welcoming Ms. Elli to the family! Next year brings even more excitement with our big move to Miami and starting the rest of our residency training there, and who else knows what to expect! Although I'm not a huge fan of resolutions, I do love the idea that the new year is a clean slate, or at least the chance to start a new good habit or two. Today I'm sharing tips for five different facets of life (and some of the most common areas where we make our resolutions for the New Year). The (not-so) cleverly crafted 5 facets (I spent a lot of time coming up with words that start with F lol!) are family, field, finance, fitness, and fashion. As with most of what I share on the blog, what I share is by no means an expert opinion, just my opinion and what I've done. Alright, with all that said, let's jump in! And we'll start with the most important.


1. FAMILY
Family to me means your unit - so don't think I'm just talking about those with kids here - if you're in a committed relationship your partner is family.

One of the best things I ever did for my relationship with N was to stop holding grudges, and more importantly to stop keeping a tally. In other relationships that you don't want to last, it might be ok to hold grudges and to keep score of when they've messed up, or when you did something nice and they didn't reciprocate, or really anything. But if you do want your relationship to last, you will grow up and get rid of your scoresheet. Of course it's important to know if you want your relationship to last or not - if you're with a jerk then leave (trust me I know it's easier said than done, but leave as soon as you know it's not right). But in a committed relationship, toss the scoresheet and become a giver. Your relationship will be so much better for it, and you will be happier letting go.

Another good place to make some change? Making time for each other and making the time count. If you have a crazy schedule, write in time for your kids' events (or make a conscious effort to leave work at a decent time to spend time with them) and for date nights. And appreciate those little times together that frequently get overlooked. Just home together? Awesome, put down your phone and talk to each other! Time spent doesn't have to mean time actually out or doing something - it's being together that counts! Maybe this year you could make a new "no phones in bed" rule, or at dinner, or whatever it is where you realize your spending empty time together.

Along with family I'm bundling in friendship, and just wanted to say a tiny bit about it. To me friends were always about quality, not quantity. I keep a small circle, but this a circle I would do anything for, and I know they would do the same for me. As we grow up and get busier in our careers and family life, it might feel like it's harder to nurture those relationships, but it really just comes down to making an effort. One of my best friends sent me this article that I absolutely love and I think sums up a lot of what I would say if you want to read it. It's calling "Showing Up" and I'll just share one of my favorite parts. "The key to long-lasting friendships, particularly for the introverts who guard their personal time like it's the last Twinkie on Earth - is to say no to enough things that don't matter so that you have the energy and time to say yes to the stuff that does matter. Quality is better than quantity."


2. FIELD
I think it's awesome practice to set a new goal every year (or every month, or whatever chunk of time you want to set for yourself), to ensure that you're always moving forward and growing. I wrote this post about achieving goals at the start of the year and still believe in every piece - write your goals down, surround yourself with likeminded people, breaking it up into smaller pieces and setting mini deadlines, and most importantly being kind to yourself and being ok with change.

One great thing to do is to set the goal to find another mentor. You all know I'm a firm believer in the power of mentorship. Find a new mentor in your field, whether by asking around, or even doing a google search, and reach out to them. Pick their brain and learn from their experiences - mentors are great for helping you figure out what will matter and what won't in the grand scheme of things.

Another great goal? Become more efficient. This is a huge goal, and can (and should) be broken up into smaller mini goals to actually help you become more efficient, but working on your efficiency is key to getting more done and still having time to enjoy your life. Remember that there is a difference between being busy and being productive, let's stop glorifying busy and learn how to be more productive! One of the best books I read this year (actually who am I kidding, it's one of the only books I read this year), was this one, it really changed the game.

If you're interested in medicine make sure to read the medicine section of the blog, or just the section on general success!


3. FINANCE
This is probably the biggest facet that we're working on this year. Now that we've graduated med school and actually have an income, we're also paying back loans, saving for a house and college for the girls, and just overall trying to be financially responsible.

Having more money comes down to two obvious (but still worth stating) concepts: making more money, and spending less money. Right now it's a little hard to make more money, so we've been really working on the spending less side of things. For starters, keeping track of your earning and spending is critical to see how much money you really have (and need), and how much you could be saving. There are great apps and websites for this; some people prefer spreadsheets for tracking. Honestly it's still all a little overwhelming for me (although using this is one of my goals this year), so far I've gotten a lot farther just writing things down by hand in my notebook and figuring things out that way. Whatever helps you just see how much money you really have and are spending. Once you know this, you can search for places to cut spending.

For me this year that meant figuring out all of my credit card debt (remember that trip to Europe I took after college, yeah I put it all on cards, and no lie am still paying for it now). I have a great credit score so I always thought I was doing the right thing just paying my bill every month, but I was seriously just wasting money and not really making a big dent. I decided to consolidate my loans into one bill using this site, making it easier to pay and having a much lower interest rate, and thankfully will have my credit card debt gone in no time! So far I've dealt with them online and over the phone and have had a great experience thus far, definitely recommend if any of you need to consolidate!

When you have everything in front of you and are aware of what you do throughout the day, you can also figure out what's waste. For us it was cable. Although we like having cable and all the 5 million channels, we weren't actually using most of it that often. I was still hesitant to get rid of it though, because Liv is home a lot of the day, and although I don't want her in front of the TV for all of it she definitely has her favorite shows! Then I realized that with our Amazon Prime membership (every mama and student needs this if you don't have it already) we actually get Amazon Prime Video, and they actually have an awesome selection! They have seasons of Dora the Explorer (a must for Liv haha) and pretty much anything you could want - over our maternity/paternity leave we watched all of Hand of God in like 2 days - such a good show! Anyway, all this to say we realized we didn't need the cable and are saving a lot of money (I'm embarrassed to say how much I was paying for it)!

Search for other places where you could save money - maybe it's eating out when you could spend a bit more time planning and packing meals (or just buying in bulk at Amazon or Costco), maybe it's your horrible shoe-buying habit (I was definitely guilty of this), make a rule that you can't buy a new pair until you sell an old pair, or buy used. Get creative and save money. Now where to put that saved money is another huge topic that I really have no business talking about because we're still trying to figure that out too - for now the money we "save" is going towards paying loans off faster, but maybe there's something better we could be doing with it (to any financial aficionados reading the blog would love to hear any thoughts you might have haha)!

4. FITNESS
I'm just getting back into the fitness side of things post-baby, and I'm by no means a big fitness buff, so this section will be short! But even while I was pregnant I followed the same basic rules for staying fit - trying to stay as active as possible throughout the day (having a "no elevator" rule in the hospital, going on walks with Liv) and eating small snacks throughout the day instead of a couple of heavy meals. This also helped me keep my energy levels up throughout the day as well. I'll be doing a postpartum fitness post very soon, but for now I think one of the best things you could do diet wise is to plan/pack your food for the day. Not only does this save money, but it also keeps you from having to buy anything you shouldn't be eating. When I'm at the hospital I like to pack my breakfast (usually two packets of instant oatmeal and coffee), midmorning snack (banana and peanut butter is one of my favorites), afternoon snack, and sometimes dinner if I'm there late. Lunch is usually free and provided at our noon lectures, and usually has pretty healthy options.

As far as the gym, it's obviously easiest to just have a set time to go to the gym, and I can echo what (most) every other advice piece will say and tell you to go to the gym first thing in the morning before starting your day. I really do think this is great advice (and it's what my crazy husband does - he wakes up at 4:30am to jog to the gym near his hospital, works out, showers there, and then goes to work), but not all of us can be that dedicated, and one way we set ourselves back is giving up on our fitness goals when we can't keep up with a schedule like that. So one thing I do is keep a gym outfit in my car at all times. The hardest thing about going to the gym (at least for me) is actually getting to the gym. I find that when I'm already out doing something else it's much easier to convince myself to go the gym, and I have no excuse when the clothes is already in the car!


5. FASHION
I usually don't really like the word fashion, I'm more a fan of style, but I needed an F word for the post! When it comes to style, (for me) it's all about choosing timeless pieces and building a small wardrobe of interchangeable pieces.

You can start with cleaning out your closet. First decide what you're going to do with the stuff you don't want anymore - for me I'm either selling it or donating it (or trashing it). I've recently started using this site to sell quality bags, shoes, and accessories that I don't really use anymore (accessories always have a better resale value) and am looking forward to using it more. It's a personal preference of mine, but I really prefer donating clothes that I no longer use versus selling it (but you can also sell clothes on the site). For the most part I find that used clothes has less resale value, and really makes a bigger difference to someone who can't buy it otherwise - so donating it to a church or your local woman's shelter really goes a long way (if you're in the Boston area, Rosie's Place on Harrison Ave accepts clothes donations, and around this time coats and warm clothing are in need! I'm sure there are many more places that accept donations as well)!

Once you know where it's going you can get to cleaning out the closet. Really analyze everything in your closet and think about whether or not you use it regularly (or at least for the same thing every year, like a favorite Christmas sweater) - if you don't get rid of it. Even if it's something beautiful, or it was on sale at an amazing price, or whatever excuse you're using to keep it in your closet, if you're not wearing it, you don't like it that much. And take a good look at what you do wear -do you gravitate towards a certain color palette, or a certain shape of pants or dress? Nothing wrong with that, that's your style, and it's ok to stick with it. I did a post at the start of 2015 with my wardrobe staples and will be doing another one soon (hint - it still looks pretty much the same as last year)! As you buy clothes throughout the year make sure to ask yourself if you really need it and if it works with what you already have. Many people like setting monthly clothing budgets and this is definitely a great idea if you're someone who does a lot of clothes shopping! My girl Fran (another fabulous blogging lady in medicine) just did a great post on setting a clothing budget if you want to read more!


And that's just about it for now! I hope some of you could find this post helpful as you start the new year! Wishing you a wonderful one!

How to Focus

Other than actual study tips and strategies, one of the questions I get pretty often is how to actually stay focused when trying to study. I think a lot of what I have to say will sound repetitive to any of you who have read my advice before, but it really boils down to a lot of the same concepts - organize your tasks, organize your space, and organize your thoughts!

image via.

Focus on one thing at a time.
Nothing makes us lose our focus more than trying to do more than one thing at a time. Now, it is smart to plan your block of time most efficiently (and maybe one thing will be "cooking" while you work on another, see below) but for the most part all of your focus should be on one thing and one thing only. Make a list of what needs to get done, decide what you're going to work on now, and once you do, forget everything else on that list. When our minds are scattered we can't think clearly - ever find yourself reading the same page over and over again because you keep "reading" it while thinking about the other assignment you have due or what you're going to wear tonight? If it needs to get done, add it to the list so you won't forget it, but then remove it from your thoughts entirely.

Plan your block of time.
Having a good list will help you know what needs to get done and help prepare to complete it all in the most efficient way possible. Maybe you've got to bake a cake, export files to a hard drive, and prepare a power point presentation. Sure you can work on the presentation for two hours, and then export the files over the hour it takes, and then bake the cake and let it cool (and spend four or more hours doing it in that order). Or, you could get the cake together and throw it in the oven, start your file export, and work on your presentation while your files are exporting and the cake is baking and cooling. And get it all done in more like 2 and a half hours. A super simple and obvious example, but I hope it illustrates the point that with a little planning you can make better use of your time, still focusing on one main thing (the presentation) but allowing for the other time consuming tasks to still get done in the background. There is a limit to this multitasking of course, so don't try to do too much or else you will end up losing focus!

Work in an inspirational space.
I've said this before, but nothing like an inspirational space to help you focus. For some this is a quiet corner in the library, for others it's a busy cafe. And still others can work pretty much anywhere with a set of headphones and be able to focus (see below for one way to do this). Find what works for you, and realize that this may change - sometimes all the "inspiration" you need is a change of scenery! A clean table is always best, so try and eliminate as much clutter from around you as possible (I'm a true believer in decluttered space = decluttered mind)!

Eliminate distractions.
I've mentioned the self control app previously, and this handy computer plug in allows you to make certain websites completely inaccessible for a designated period of time. Unfortunately I don't think it's compatible with the newer Mac updates (or at least the reviews since have been poor) so I have not used it - instead I have been able to focus just using white noise! For those that would like an app like this, there are a few other options you can read about here (sadly I can't weigh in on any as I haven't used them myself).

So to what I use currently - I just have the simply noise website in easy reach on my bookmarks bar - there are many white noise apps you can download on your phone but I like this website because it means I can keep my phone away from me while I'm working (and eliminate the temptation to check Instagram or Twitter). My favorite setting is the pink noise on oscillation - sounds just like waves crashing. I'll plug in my headphones and listen to this while I work and really be able to focus. Some people swear by actual white noise machines, but I find these are best for keeping in your own office space if you have one or in the bedroom for sleep, not so much for on the go (although this one is so small that some of the reviewers do mention taking it traveling with them)! Find what works for you - some people would rather listen to a 2 hour rain forest sounds loop on YouTube or classical music, or even hip hop music. Careful though, if you find yourself singing along you likely aren't focusing as well on your task as you could be (unless that task doesn't require much thought).

I also like to enter full screen mode for whatever I'm working on and really visually focusing on only one thing at a time. I also make sure to turn off any notifications that would otherwise pop up (messages on my mac, new email notifications, etc).

Set a timer.
Starting is always the hardest part. To force myself to get to work, sometimes I will set a timer, even for only 10 minutes, and say, ok, for these 10 minutes I will do absolutely nothing but focus on this task. Although 10 minutes doesn't sound like much, it's enough to get started, and once you're actually working you can continue on. Some people like to continue working this way and work in focused chunks of 20 or 30 minutes at a time, taking a quick break to do their other distracting tasks that they put off while they worked. I prefer just using the timer technique for forcing myself to get started, and then I'll usually just keep working.

Take a small break.
Sometimes you just need to take a little break to get the brain juices flowing again. Especially if I'm working late at night (and at home), I love to take a shower and have a snack (usually something high protein like peanut butter and granola), then get back to work. Some things that work for other people include going out for a quick walk or run (fresh air does wonders) or even taking a music dance break (switching from your white noise to some crazy dance inducing/motivating tunes for a couple of songs).

Take a big break (ie, take a little time to find your purpose).
Sometimes, you need a big break. Like a vacation kind of break. Especially when work becomes so crazy and it feels like you've lost control of your own schedule and you just don't even know what you're working for... a break like this is sometimes exactly what you need. A big break doesn't have to be a vacation, it can even just be a day you take for yourself and try to remind yourself what your motivations really are in the first place. Maybe it means volunteering in the hospital, or visiting family, or even shopping, whatever it may be, that's what you should do.

I hope this post can help some of you find a little bit more focus when you work! 

Organized Bags at every size and price

After mentioning my ideal school/hospital bag in my post about back-to-school shopping, a lot of you wanted more recommendations for bags that were a little smaller (or larger) and could fit various budgets. So today I whipped up a quick guide for some of my favorite organized bags, which size I think is best for what, and an easy solution for organizing any bag! 

Small bags:  Small crossbody-style bags are perfect for days you are only carrying what you need for a certain event. Maybe you're only in the hospital for the morning and just need a small notebook, your stethoscope, cell phone and other essentials. These size bags are perfect for when you don't need to carry your entire day with you.  From left to right (least expensive to most expensive) are this bag by Target, this Dooney and Bourke classic, and this gorgeous bag by Tumi. 

Medium bags:  I think my idea of medium is probably a little bigger than some people's, but these medium bags are perfect for carrying around most of what you'll need for an entire day at work or school - your laptop, planner, lunch, and other essentials. Their size isn't overwhelming but they can pack pretty much everything you need. This is usually my go-to everyday bag. From left to right (least expensive to most expensive) are this bag by Fisher Price (yes, now we're getting into the diaper bags, but trust me these are fabulous for organizing!), this bag by Skip Hop, and this bag by Marc by Marc Jacobs. 

Large bags:  Now we're getting into the really large bags - typically designed for weekend trips and short travel. But if you're the type of girl who has to carry around everything for multiple different events throughout the day, this will be your bag of choice. These bags not only fit your laptop and lunch and whatever else you need for the day, but you can also throw in your change of clothes and sneakers for the gym where you're headed straight after work. Or you're sneaking away to get a couple hours of work done but later will be on mom-duty running errands with baby for the rest of the day and need to carry both mom and baby necessities. Whatever is it that is packing up your day, these size bags will allow you to carry everything you need with you. From left to right (least expensive to most expensive) are this bag by Skip Hop, this cult-classic by MZ Wallace, and this bag (my med school favorite) by Lo & Sons (happens to be 20% off now)!

Already have a bag you love but it could use a little more organizing? Try buying a bag insert that essentially adds extra pockets to your bag! This one gets awesome reviews- it fits most tote-style bags, comes in bright colors, and is a great solution at around $20! An insert like this can really make any bag an organized carry-all! 

Back to (Med) School Shopping

As back to school season approaches (or maybe we're already in it? I've lost track now that I'm out of it), I always get a little nostalgic about back to school shopping. It was always my favorite time of the year - the inner organizer-junkie inside of me loved buying notebooks and pens and markers and planners, and the clothes was always fun too! For those of you who are heading into medical school (congratulations!!) I've drawn up a little list of necessities (and some not-so-necessities) for starting the year off right! These certainly can work for any school or work environment as well, not just medicine!

For starters - what to wear. I like to keep it simple, so decided to show you how to easily mix and match the same top for class, clinic, or the wards. Easy t-shirts like this one can be dressed up with a skirt or down with jeans and really work for any occasion! I will of course make the disclaimer that you should always make sure that you know the dress code in your school and hospital. For us at HMS you could wear anything you wanted to class, so a casual pair of distressed jeans like these were just fine, but at some schools this may not pass. The same goes for the hospital, at most of the hospitals I've worked at wearing a t-shirt with scrub bottoms is completely acceptable (and the norm on the medicine floor), especially with your white coat thrown on top. In the ORs this is a big no-no though (only scrub top and scrub bottom allowed), and in some places if you're not on long call or overnight scrubs are not allowed at all (and you're expected to dress more like you would for clinic). I hope this makes sense! 

I picked out some fun flats for class and clinic (black and tan are pretty much the only two colors you need), and for the hospital I've converted to the Dansko tribe. Especially now that I'm spending even more time on my feet these really do make a huge difference (as do compression socks)! 

One of the most important things you'll buy this year? Your school bag. I figured out well before Liv (back in college actually) that diaper bags were the best bag for school. They could fit a ton, had loads of pockets, and most have double shoulder straps (all necessities for my bag). This one is perfect and really similar to the one I still use in the hospital now - it's polyester so now and then I can wipe it clean with a disinfecting wipe and not worry about damaging it, has pockets everywhere, and even a cross body strap. You can toss the changing pad if you want, but I always use it as a cheap laptop sleeve/protector! 

A watch isn't a necessity in the age of the all-mighty cell phone, but there will be many times when checking your phone just isn't appropriate, even if it is just for the time. This one is pretty much my all time favorite. 

And finally the stethoscope. I went a little extra for my stethoscope and got a gold one, but I love it and I can actually pick up murmurs with it. I made sure to get one of the ones that was best-reviewed. Check with your med school class before buying as lots of classes will do a group purchase to get a group discount. Sometimes this discount can be pretty significant, but other times you can find better deals online (like this one on Amazon) - just do the comparison for yourself to be sure! Some schools will tell you you have to buy an otoscope and ophthalmoscope and blood pressure cuff, etc. etc. You don't. I repeat, you do not. You can if you want to, but most clinics and hospital rooms will have these readily available in patient rooms. No need to spend the hundreds of dollars for them. (And again, like most of the advice I give, obviously check with your own institution. Some schools are more strict than others and may actually require you to purchase them. At ours it was "highly recommended" and I fell for the trap)!

And for the fun part of shopping (seriously I could spend all day in the stationary section) - the stuff that's going to keep you organized! For starters, a good planner. I got lucky a couple of weeks ago at Target and found a Day Designer that is perfect (and much cheaper - and slimmer - than the original Day Designer)! Unfortunately it's not available online anymore, but check in store and maybe you'll get lucky! Design wise, this Kate Spade planner comes really close! I've professed my love for these Russell and Hazel mini-binders before, they also make awesome planners if you buy the calendar pages, or just note keepers (made more beautiful by their colorful mini-tabs)! I also love their to-do list sticky notes. Extras like colorful pens for color-coded notes and washi tape for labeling things on your calendar or in your notes make studying fun (and can also lead to distraction, hahaha, so balance it ladies)! I threw in the push pins just for fun. Probably the biggest investment you might make is a laptop. Check with your school's financial aid office, many offer a loan specifically for buying a new computer that is separate from any of your other loans. N and I both used this to buy our laptops (I have a MacBook Air that was perfect to bring back and forth to class and still perfect now)! 

More than what you buy at the start of medical school is what you remember. And if you remember anything, remember this - the start of medical school is fun and terrifying and feels impossible all at the same time, but you deserve to be exactly where you are. It's hard not to compare yourself to all of your likely amazing classmates, but know that you are good enough. The admissions committee didn't screw up in letting you in and they will not be sending you a letter in a month saying they made a mistake. You worked your butt off to get to where you are now. There's a lot more hard work to come, but you can (and you will) do it.

How to Start a (Successful) Blog

Just the other day it hit me - my blog just had its 4 year birthday last week! I thought now would be as good a time as any to talk about starting and maintaining a successful blog! It's something I get asked all the time and honestly something I feel is still a "I-don't-know-anything-about-this-topic" matter. Half of the time I feel like I know nothing about blogging, but when you all ask me questions about blogging or I'm talking with friends or family about it I've realized I do have a few things to share that may be valuable to some of you. Or maybe not. But we'll go ahead anyway! I'll share this as more of a "how I started my blog" post with some tips thrown in since I really am no expert.

Know your purpose

I'd say first and foremost, know why you want to start a blog. If it's to make money, I'd highly recommend pursuing a different hobby, as making money through a blog really does take a huge time (and money) investment. Unless of course you already have a high quality DSLR camera, laptop, photographer, affiliate marketer, and large community of followers, etc. (which most of us don't for quite some time). So, other than the unrealistic expectation of making money quickly, you still want to start a blog? Figure out why. Is it because you love to cook and want to share recipes? Is it because you've overcome some obstacle and want to share your story with others who may be going through the same right now? Is it because you love fashion or DIY projects? Whatever it is, try and get a good grasp on it, as this will also help not only focus your posts in the beginning but will also help identify your blogging community. 

Find a platform that works for you

I run my blog using Blogger (hence the .blogspot bit at the end of my web address). I did purchase the actual domain name for my website (alittlebitoflacquer.com) but have yet to transfer things over. I thought it was a necessary part of having a successful blog, but it turns out it's really not. So I haven't really gotten around to it yet. I decided on Blogger mostly because there were no upfront costs, it was relatively easy to figure out how to create posts, and at the time when I started, there was a great community using Blogger. I still think it's a great platform and will likely continue using it because I don't really have time to switch to something else, but one platform that's gaining a lot of traction lately and really makes beautiful websites is Squarespace. I love Elle's blog for her tips on Squarespace, I've certainly toyed with the idea of switching over thanks to her! Wordpress is the other huge name when it comes to creating your own blog, and most big time bloggers will swear by it. It has a ton of power and plug ins for everything you could imagine (basically allowing you to truly design your blog the way you want it) - but for me it was just too overwhelming. Some people like Tumblr, but Tumblr "blogs" are a whole different breed of blog (more like microblog) - essentially all photo based, and not necessarily the type of blog I'm talking about in this post. I think honestly if I were starting a blog now I would go with Squarespace (it didn't exist when I started).

Invest in a clean web design and good photos

As far as my actual web design, I've always purchased pre-made templates from etsy shops (here and here are some favorites - the shop that made my current blog design is unfortunately now closed). Although I didn't want to spend too much money upfront on something that was just a hobby, templates can be super inexpensive and really change the entire feel of your blog. As the blog has evolved I've moved to cleaner and cleaner designs which I love. Other things to look for when purchasing a template? I like a floating header - when you scroll down on my blog the menu at the top comes down with it. Make sure they also include customized social media buttons (most do now) and instructions for installation. For my first couple of templates I had the designer I purchased them from install them for me, for my most recent one I chose one that I could install myself (with awesome instructions of course) that allowed me to customize my menu and other things using a bit of html. As you get more comfortable with blogging and a few pieces of html here and there you'll really appreciate being able to tweak things on your own as you need to!

Photos are a huge part of blogging, and learning some good photography and developing an eye for good photos will help you develop a strong following! About a year and a half into blogging I finally asked for a DSLR for Christmas and was so happy to be able to step my photo game up (I use this camera). Regardless of your camera, try taking nice, crisp pictures with natural lighting (always the best). Many bloggers use Photoshop for editing which has tons of functions and capabilities, eventually I'd love to learn how to use it, but for the last 4 years I've used Picasa which is a free download and allows for simple edits and creating collages (like the one I created here). 

Find your voice

Ok, so you've signed up for a blog and even installed a gorgeous new blog design. Now what do you actually post? In the beginning, it will depend on the purpose of your blog. For me, I started with fashion, interior design, and recipes (overall lifestyle blog). Write posts as if you've got a huge audience reading even if you don't. Once you start building a community (see below) and getting feedback from them and your stats, you'll start to learn what people like and how they find your blog most useful. With this blog, although I still categorize it as a lifestyle blog and still include fashion and recipes, it now includes much more "med school" than I ever thought it would, and that's because of you all and this amazing community! I have found that my blog can be most helpful when I include bits of me enjoying my life but more importantly when I show that I'm doing this while pursuing the rigorous training involved in becoming a physician, and helping those of you who want to pursue something similar along the way. This blog has become something much more powerful that I ever imagined and I have you all to thank for helping me find my voice. 

Build a community

One of the best parts of blogging (and why most of us start in the first place) is to connect with people who have similar interests or are going through similar life experiences. Whatever it may be, I can almost guarantee that you will find a community on the internet! Sometimes this can be a bad thing (ie internet trolls), but for the most part finding a community online is amazing! So how do you find it? Search online for blogs that interest you - chances are if you started a blog you may already be following a few - comment on those blogs! And please, don't just write "great post" or "come check out my blog," write something that actually means something, that shows the blogger your piece really resonated with them! It doesn't hurt to include your website at the bottom so they can find you, but just make sure to leave a genuine comment! Do this for as many blogs as you like, as often as you like, and soon you'll find people commenting on your blog as well. Many blogs also host link ups, which is another great way to get to know other bloggers - some for fashion, food, DIY ideas, you name it! Once you find the interaction that appeals to you the most stick with it! Earlier in the life of my blog I did a lot of commenting on blogs, but now finding other bloggers through Instagram is actually easier for me, just find what works for you!

Pay attention to your stats

Early on, you likely won't have much to look at as far as stats. I remember looking at my stats page on Blogspot and seeing I had 12 page views and then remembering I was probably 10 of them. And my mom was probably the other 2. But then I'd start getting page views from Virginia or New York, and get so so excited! Once the excitement wears off a bit, start paying attention to what your viewers are doing on your website, and what brings them there. I certainly got more visits when I participated in link ups on other blogs, but this didn't always gain me new followers. I started realizing that my most popular posts were life/advice posts, so although I didn't initially plan on it, I started including more of those posts on the blog. Instagram is currently my biggest traffic source (other than Google), so I make sure to keep that social media outlet most up-to-date. Pinterest is another huge traffic generator, but because it's all image based, it will only bring traffic if you have quality images! Another reason to try your best to start taking good photographs.

Listen to your readers

Along the same lines, when you start getting followers and comments from readers, listen to them! Hopefully you will see them as a community and not as a "following," and treat them as such! This doesn't mean you have to write each post based on what they say (there are still plenty of things I've been asked that have never made it to the blog!) but it does mean to pay attention to what they're curious about. If you're a budget fashion blogger and people are always asking how you find your deals, it'd probably make a great post! If you're a mom blogger and a couple of other bloggers have asked how you're coping with transitioning from a crib to a bed, it'd probably help out a few (a ton) of other mamas too! Although blogging isn't necessarily like running a store, I like to think of it this way - if you're offering apples and oranges for sale, and people are buying all of the apples, you'd offer more apples, right? And if you had something similar to apples you might start offering that too and seeing what people thought, maybe they'd be interested in that too! Ok probably a horribly analogy, but hopefully you get my point! 

Try to post regularly
Early on, this is easy, but as life gets hectic and things get busy it's all too easy to stop posting all together and let your blog shrivel up and turn to dust. This is the fate of most blogs. I definitely cannot preach the gospel of a regular posting schedule, because I don't follow one, but I can say that's it's a really great idea. I think 1-2 posts a week is perfect for someone just starting out. If you have more ideas, that's great, write them up! But then save them as drafts for later, it's always nice to have a stockpile of posts for times when you are too busy to take photos or come up with something to write. At the moment I try to hold myself accountable for 2-3 posts a month, which is definitely less than when I started, but it's a good balance for now! It also depends on what you're posting - a daily outfit post might take 10-15 minutes to throw together, a collage of gift ideas might take 1-2 hours, and a longer post like this one might take a few days to put together! So keep that in mind as well when you're thinking about how regularly you want to post.

Enjoy it
I think this goes without saying, but make sure to enjoy it. Once you've found your voice and your niche in blogging it really is a wonderful hobby. When it stops feeling fun or you no longer feel like sharing online, think about why, and what you can change if anything, but if it's time to hang up the blogging hat it may just be time to hang up the blogging hat! There's nothing wrong with that either.

I hope if you're interested in starting a blog this post may have helped you a bit! Feel free to ask any questions in the comment section below!  

How to Juggle It All

I think this is the number question I get from my readers now. How do you juggle it all? How do you balance being a wife, mother, medical student/almost doctor, and blogger, and still manage to be happy? The short answer? I don't!

Let's clear that up a bit - I am happy almost all of the time when I remember to be grateful, and thankfully I have lots of reminders of just how blessed I am. But juggle it all? That's a concept we need to get out of our heads and redefine for ourselves. 

Let's start with one piece of wisdom one of my mentors shared with me early on - "You can have all the hats you want, but you can only wear one hat at a time." These wise words have only become truer through motherhood. When I'm in "doctor mode" that's what I'm doing, when I'm in "mom mode" all of my attention is on Liv. It's something I always have to work on, but I'm getting there. You see, in college, when I was balancing a full-time courseload, working as a residency advisor, medical assistant, kitchen dishwasher, and extracurriculars like basic science research and being the president of a minority pre-med group (and being in a relationship), it was all relatively simple - make lists of everything that needed to be done for every role I was in, and plug in times throughout the week alotted for each of them. With some scheduling and time management, it all could be done. 

Fast forward a few years, and "simply" scheduling isn't as easy anymore. Working in the hospital, at least as a medical student and resident, you don't have a set in stone schedule. Sure, you may work roughly 7-5, or 7-7, but for most of us, especially when on inpatient months, you're rotating through a call schedule with days that are dependent on how many patients you admit, how complicated they are, and how efficiently work can get done. With motherhood, well you moms know, naptime is never guaranteed, moods can never be predicted, and you sort of just have to go with the flow! My days of perfectly scheduled blocks of time for each task on my large to-do list are over for now. 

With letting go of my sanity-saving scheduling ways came a new way to get things done. I still keep a constantly updated to-do list for tasks that need completing, but I keep it on my phone so I can easily update it whenever I get the chance, and utilize it whenever I have free time. I am currently in love with the app "Do It (Tomorrow)" It's a wonderfully simple to-do list app that is as beautiful as it is functional, and really just works for my new scheduling and acceptance of things that can't get done today. It allows me to keep my list, cross off things as they are completed, or move them to tomorrow's to-do list (and will do so automatically if it wasn't completed). This little app has been key to my sanity! It has the only features I really need - namely, the ability to rearrange the order of my list (all I need to know priority), can sync with your desktop (which I rarely use but is nice), and it's pretty enough that I want to check it multiple times a day. 

{a make believe to-do list I created to show you how pretty the app is! this is the desktop view, the phone view splits up the pages so you can either look at today or tomorrow.}

Thankfully I'm not alone, and hopefully you aren't either. Having N, our parents, our friends, daycare and a back-up babysitter, that's our village, and there is absolutely no way I'd be doing any of this without them! 

We need to be kind to ourselves. Despite having less time and control over my time than I had pre-Liv, I don't feel like I've lost much of my productivity. I have certainly become a bit more of a "pressure makes diamonds" kind of worker and worked on things at the absolute last possible minute, but you make it work. I think that's the real message I've learned from motherhood and I hope to share with you all - you just make it work. Had you told me first year of medical school that I was going to have a child third year I would have laughed in your face and maybe cried a little on the inside and told you it was impossible. But you make it work. We rise to whatever the situation demands, and through this we achieve greatness. It's nice to be in a comfort zone, but we only grow by leaving that comfort zone and taking on the next challenge (or blessing, all of our challenges are really blessings). 

I hope this post can help those of you who feel like you're trying to juggle it all. One last piece of advice I can offer is to stop the comparison game! Especially with social media, it's so easy to see another mother or woman's instagram feed and think she has a perfect life! Don't compare your life and all the ups and downs to the little squares that make up someone's highlight reel! I know personally I just don't like sharing negative things on social media, for me it's a space for all my happy memories, but trust Liv throws tantrums and N and I fight and I get horrible breakouts and life is not always peachy, but man, life is still so good. It's all about perspective. Just wanted to share that with you so as we all tend to sometimes get wrapped up in that! I hope you all have wonderful weekends! 

How to Achieve Your Goals

Happy New Year! I hope you all had restful holidays with your loved ones and are ready to take on a new year! 2014 was an amazing year, but no matter how amazing, it's always nice to set new goals and continue growing each year! What are your goals for this year? I've got a few myself, most are more small changes I can make in my daily life, but some are bigger projects I'd love to complete. 

If any of you also have some big goals this year, I hope this post can help you in achieving them! 

Image via Instagram @Sara_De and featured by @DarlingMagazine

1. Write them down: This sounds silly, but writing things down really does get them out and make them tangible. No longer are they dreams and ideas floating around in our mind, now they're in front of you. I like to write plans down in a journal and even continue writing and see where it takes me. Type out your goal or find a cute print that symbolizes it and get it printed - hang it somewhere where you will see it everyday.

2. Surround yourself with likeminded people: Nothing is more detrimental to a goal than having people constantly belittling it. Many of us will continue and succeed, in spite of such talk, and if you can do so bravo! But nothing is more cultivating than having people who are thinking about the same problems you are or working towards the same goals. These aren't cheerleaders, per say (although it's always nice to have them in your corner too) - these are people who you can talk with and bounce ideas of off, learn from, collaborate with. You are almost never alone in your goals - find likeminded people and link up however you can! Social media can be great for finding these people, as can good old fashioned networking. 

3. Break it up and set mini rough deadlines: Goals can seem scary. Especially when they're big, they can seem near impossible. One of my favorite quotes in high school was the classic by Lao Tzu "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" - back then the idea of becoming a doctor seemed so far away and would take so long and would basically be impossible. But I would think of that quote and just focus on the next step and now, well, you guys know how time flies! Breaking up your goal into smaller steps serves a couple of purposes - for one, it will allow you to plan your attack, and figure out what actually has to get done to reach your goal. Secondly, it will make the goal seem much less daunting - just focus on the next step, and then the next one, and then nothing will stop you. 

4. Be kind to yourself: I call all deadlines rough deadlines. Now some are rougher than others of course, but for the most part, if you don't accomplish something by the time you wanted, it's ok! The world won't end, you will have another chance tomorrow, or the next month. I mention this because we all have setbacks, or things that come up and require us to temporarily change our priorities, it's life after all. But we can't beat ourselves up over these things, be kind to yourself, and set a new deadline! No need to give up. 

5. Be ok with change - The final thing you have to remember when trying to achieve your goals is that sometimes goals change. Never be so stiff in your goals that you lose your ability to see new opportunity. I for one like to finish things, I'm obsessed with the checking off of checkboxes, so this was a lesson that was hard for me. But we really can't plan for everything, and because of that our goals don't always fit us. Our goals grow or change as we do, and we should be ok with that!

I'd love to hear what tips help you achieve your goals! We all have different things that work for us!

What's in the Bag: Back to School

Today was the first day of school! Inspired by my back to school bag post I decided to share what I actually brought for the first day of classes (a wonderful lecture on receptors and dose-responses might I add... cough, cough). 

a folder with a handout of lecture notes; sadly I still like to use my good old paper and pen, but with all of the paper we got last year I'm seriously considering an iPad.

my favorite little coffee notebook to jot down random things. 

a pink highlighter and pink pen (representing the fight against breast cancer as I learn how to fight it). 

excedrin (unfortunately with all of the learning attempts at learning come headaches).

  

my keys, complete with rape whistle and all (don't make fun of me, I live alone and walk around aimlessly at night).

some i.d.'s so I can go places.

shades that were completely useless today.

little girly things like lip gloss (partially salvaged after the dog attack), oil blotters, and bobby pins, or else I'm one oily, frizzy mess.

I also had cookies... but I ate those. 

What do you ladies carry with you to school/work?

Back to School Bag

My favorite time of the year is fast-approaching, back-to-school-time! Seriously, back to school shopping is the best. Ever since I was kid I've always loved organization, so a backpack with lots of pockets was a must, plus a pencil bag, an eraser bag (for my collection of awesome erasers of course), chapstick bag, you get the idea. Now I'm a little more grown up - no more backpacks - but I still love a chic bag with lots of pockets. Unfortunately with a medical student budget the bag I'm really crushing on right now (Anthro Lane Lines) may be a bit out of my reach at almost $300. Here are a few of my other pics!

Anthro bag, Melie Bianco bag, Asos bag, Forever 21 bag, Target bag