Fabulous Accessories for the Holidays - Accessorize with Montana Silversmiths

Hello!
Happy Thanksgiving! Here in the US this week is all about giving thanks, and appreciating what you have. And more importantly, its about taking some much needed time off from the lab!
I just finished some long days/late nights of just writing writing writing, and sent off a final draft to my labmates for revisions before sending off to the journal for *hopefully* acceptance for publication! So I left lab early on this pre-Thanksgiving afternoon, and I jumped right on to get some blog posts written for you that I have lined up!
I have a small holiday wishlist, and a lot of those things on my list are accessories, and pieces I can match with clothing and outfits I already own. A great way to spice up your outfits is by adding some extra bling and pizzazz with your accessories, including earrings and necklaces!
I am a big lover of dangly and sparkly earrings, in addition to pendant necklaces, so when I discovered Montana Silversmiths Jewelry, I was a huge fan of their selection of really pretty pieces. They have a lot of timeless, classy earrings and necklaces, and it was hard just choosing a few to style!
Here are a few of their pieces I was sent to style, and they are my favorite! I fell in love, and they are super affordable and great quality pieces that will last.

First, I styled these Retro Flair Open Fan Earrings with a casual outfit I wore to the lab, and they were super pretty and stylish. In addition, because they had some bling on them, they really stood out in contrast with my dark hair!

Fashion and Fitness - My cheap therapy

Lately, if you have been following me on Instagram, you have been probably hearing about how I've been really stressed out. Partly the reason why I hadn't been posting as much in the recent months, because life got really out of hand. I got really stressed out, anxious, my project completely changed direction and I thought I would be ready to defend my thesis by the end of the summer, walked at graduation, and now my plans are completely different (or at least delayed).
I guess everything happens for a reason. I didn't get the job I interviewed for (the one that I thought was my perfect match, guess it wasn't so perfect after all), I started getting contradicting (but good I guess) results, I got a dissertation year fellowship, so the fact that all of my Plan A's didn't work out, my Plan B is coming in handy now, even though I didn't appreciate it at first; so now I don't have to worry about TAing while trying to figure out the jumble of confusion that is my life right now.
And while things haven't been working the way I planned (Oh science, that's how you must be, right?), the one thing I HAVE been able to control is my exercise and health routine. I gained some weight from losing my work out momentum, stress, eating whatever I wanted, and I fell back into the stress and anxiety routine I worked so hard to get over. I referred back to my health and fitness community over on facebook and I refound my inspiration. I started a workout program that's available for free on the Beachbody On Demand that I subscribe to, and with the help of 2 other amazing ladies, we are keeping ourselves accountable for getting the workouts done - as in, we have a group chat going and we each message the others when we are pressing play on our workouts and get it done! It has really helped me manage my stress and anxiety and really helped me make time for myself. I have started regarding working out as "Me" time, and a meeting I make with myself, and I'm not allowed to skip it, just as I wouldn't skip a work meeting, etc. While I have been struggling a little still, I am doing a lot better with managing my stress. I am obsessed with my new life style, when I have a rest day, I am just itching to get back to working out!

Coachella/Casual Inspired Look Part 2 - Tobi Skater Dress

Happy Hump Day!
So glad this week is flying by, so ready for the weekend again!
I have an important week next week coming up that I'm trying to prepare for (two interviews!) but I am trying to keep my cool!
Today I am bringing you another Coachella inspired Casual look from Tobi.com- can be worn to a festival or even just the lab - I think this pretty dress is super versatile and can be worn different ways! It was originally a dress - the Together Forever Skater Dress  in black! It was a really windy day so I decided to wear pants underneath to avoid any windy day mishaps if you catch my drift! But it can be worn by itself or as a longer shirt/tunic over pants or leggings! I like both styles! Wearing it with pants is a lot more appropriate for lab during the week, wearing as a dress is easier during the weekend, for example, going to brunch with friends!

Simple Chic work outfit - and a JazzyKreationz Statement Necklace

Hello!
Happy Friday!
Another week, another post! What a busy crazy week it has been, and its only been a 4 day week, with the day off on Monday!
The weather in LA has also been a little crazy, cold, then warming back up into the 80s/90s, to rain, to back to warm... what is this!? I would expect this weather from back home in MA but not in SoCal! Though I can't say I didnt love the rain!! I'm so excited for the weekend to relax and recharge, it has been a really busy week running around to different obligations and experiments/gathering some really great data!
Here is a simple chic outfit I wore to work, featuring the Brown-gold statement necklace, that is a handmade statement necklace from JazzyKreationz - a handmade and customizable necklace and jewelry store I discovered on instagram! This necklace is so simple yet so chic - I love the beaded pattern and detail! It definitely steals the spotlight from the rest of the outfit, which I kept simple to focus on this necklace! I also love the colors, perfect for a conference or simple outfit, have it be the focal point! I got a lot of compliments on this outfit and necklace, so I am so happy with it! Definitely check out Jazzy's store and see her other "kreationz!" She can customize a necklace or make one to order, so if there is something in mind that you want, definitely let her know! I love the other necklaces she makes as well, they are super chic!
I just wore a simple white t-shirt with a sparkly cardigan from a local store, along with my YMI jeans and ankle boots from Target! This is one of my go-to outfits since it is so simple and can be paired with a nice statement necklace to really add some style!

Malibu and Glam Necklace - weekend relaxing

Hello!
Happy Monday and happy February! I can't believe it is already the first of the month! January flew by!
I've been super busy with lab work and some outside things I am involved with, which is great because it gives me more of a work-life balance. I've been trying to leave lab at a reasonable time so I can have enough time to relax and workout when I get home. So far so good, and my stress levels are much lower!
I'm also working on rebranding my blog a little bit, adding a fitness aspect to it, because fitness and health has become a big aspect of my life recently, ever since I decided I needed to take care of myself. I am hoping to start writing some blogposts about lifestyle, fitness and health, and also start a youtube channel as well. I have been doing a beachbody program called 21 day fix and I saw results in 21 days, and I feel sooo much better - no more headaches or migraines! I am trying to help people as well so I signed up to be a coach, so if you are interested in doing a program with me, send me an email, I'd love to forward you some info on the program and have you join the challenge group that is starting next monday February 8!! I've started surrounding myself with a lot of positivity in this group, everyone is so great and posts every day to stay accountable, its exactly what I need right now.

Fall Style and Lab Fashion - Eclectic Eccentricity Amethyst Necklace and more

Happy Monday!
I can't believe it is almost the end of November and Thanksgiving is almost here! Time is flying by and I can't believe it is almost December! For thanksgiving I usually spend it with friends, as it is too expensive to fly home to my parents, especially as I am going to Boston for Christmas - so why not just wait for the Christmas holidays to see them! It is actually pretty warm again in LA - its been in the 80s all weekend - boo! I was loving the cooler weather!

I have been extra stressed and dealing with anxiety and headaches lately - I feel comfortable enough to tell you guys it has been a real struggle, but I am trying to find ways to combat the stress, such as starting a new yoga program and focusing on breathing and meditation. It is all about balance, and I really have to work on that!

Well, one of my ways to kick back and relax is to shop and put together outfits, and I love putting together outfits from my closet. I bought this H&M dress last year, but the color is still perfect for fall this season. I wore this outfit to lab by adding some black leggings underneath the boots - I have been rewearing these boots with various outfits, they are so versatile - you can wear them with jeans, with dresses, and so much more! I got these boots from Target last year as well. I am also wearing my Apple Watch Sport that I won from a facebook contest from a local news station - so cool! I also curled my hair and I loved how my new highlights pop and make my hair look so much lighter! I am wearing my IrresistibleMe Extensions from my last post, and they look so natural, giving me a darker ombre! I love it! Love my hair!

And to complete the look I wore this beautiful Barock on Gemstone Amethyst Necklace from Eclectic Eccentricity Jewellery, the same company that I got the DNA necklace I posted about a few weeks ago! You can check out the necklace HERE. EclecticEccentricity.com has such a great selection of science themed necklaces, they are perfect for the holidays and a perfect addition for a science fashionista! The necklace comes in different gemstones, but I was drawn to Amethyst as it is my birthstone and I love the color purple! hehe. and I loved the detail of the cold piece and the chain of the necklace - it was perfect! The stone is also substantial and heavy - it is a legit rock! So cool to have a cool piece to wear! Do check out their necklaces and jewellery selection! You are sure to find something cool for yourself or to give as a gift!

Fall Sunshine and new hair style - highlights and an ombre - Irresistible Me Extensions

Happy Monday!
The sun has been shining here in LA but it has gotten "cold," and I love crisp fall sunshine! Although I guess cold is relative because when I say cold I mean between 50-65F. Since there isn't much humidity here in LA, when the temperature drops and the wind picks up, it can get rather cold! I am definitely a California girl now, but the other day when it was 65 and everyone else was complaining about how cold it was, I was in short sleeves and was fine! haha!
Work has been no different, if anything I am more stressed, but I am looking forward to the holidays as I am going to take a week and a half off to go visit my parents in Boston! And the boy is coming with finally! :D
Well, anyway, to combat this cooler weather, I have been wearing lots of sweaters to work; sweaters are nice because in the morning it is cool and in the middle of the day if I am getting lunch on campus sometimes it reaches 70-75 degrees, and then at night time when I am leaving work (it gets dark at like 5 now, so anytime I leave work it is already cold and dark), it is so cold! I found this cute little sweater that I bought from Kaitlyn Clothing, a little boutique store near UCLA. I also just wore a simple white t-shirt with jeans from Zara and heeled boots that I have worn before on the blog! I forgot about these boots and I forgot about how much I love them!

I also got my hair highlighted and cut on halloween - it had been 2 years since I did anything with my hair! I hadn't even gotten my hair cut! It was super long (longer than my waist), and super thick - the pony tail I would make would feel so heavy! So after talking with Samira, my blogger friend from Stylemesamira.com, I went to her hair stylist and got my hair done! I fell in love with it, even though it is fall my hair is lighter and seems super fun! I got a few colors in my hair to have it all blend and look lighter! At the same time I received my hair extensions from IrresistibleMe.com, and decided to put them in. I had never tried hair extensions before and have always had my eye on them, wanting to try them to make my hair even longer and fuller. I never could qualify buying them when my hair was already long and thick, but it was a great opportunity to try them finally! I have always wanted to dye extensions a different color as well so I could change my hair look without damaging my own hair! I ordered them in the Silky Touch Chocolate Brown, 20 inches, and I received them the day before I cut/dyed my hair! My natural hair was the same exact shade as the extensions, which I was amazed at how well it matched! And my hair was just as long if not longer than the extensions, which shocked me and was when I realized, yes, I need to cut my hair!!! After getting my hair done I added the extensions into my hair (they were clip in), and I curled my hair as I normally would, and I LOVED how the look came out! Since my hair was now a little lighter, when I added the darker extensions it looked like a reverse ombre, where the ends were darker! But it wasn't too drastic as it matched with the rest of my hair! It looked and felt so natural, you couldn't tell that it wasn't my hair! They also added a lot of volume to my hair, which was great since I could have the volume but not feel the heavy weight of my hair always! Before I got it cut, my hair just felt so heavy, so it was a breath of fresh air when I could add them in and take them out at the end of the day!

Take a look at the look below! I fell in love!

What I wore and Cute DNA Necklace by Eclectic Eccentricity Jewelry!

Hi Guys!
Happy Halloween!
Today I bring you an outfit post of what I wore to #FabDILab event last weekend (recap coming early next week along with the winner of the Firmoo Giveaway!), and a really cute necklace that I want to showcase!
#FabDILab blogger conference was a great time, I learned so much, and I decided to wear this really cute Chambray dress that I bought myself from Charlotte Russe. It was nice because it was casual but still chic and could easily dress it up with heels! I decided to go with gold accessories, and it was the perfect opportunity to wear my Eclectic Eccentricity Paired for Life Double Helix DNA Necklace that I received and fell in love with! What a better opportunity to represent my blog at the conference and to stand out than a DNA necklace that is super cute!
I went to their site, eclecticeccentricity.com to look at their necklaces and they were all SO CUTE! I couldn't pick just one favorite! I adored their unique take on accessory main pieces! Everything was science and space themed, I wish I could have everything! From dinosaurs, to planets, to space ships, to DNA, to moon dust, to special element rocks, everything was so unique and beautiful!
The Double Helix DNA necklace is really great, it is a brass double helix pendant along with a small red Cherry Quartz and another quartz and hematite cubes on a gold plated chain! DNA is the basis of our entire world and being, so this is a really cute necklace to showcase the importance of science!

Black and White - Bringing back a Strapless Sundress

Hello loves!

It has been quite a great trip so far, and I am happy to be able to kick back and relax, away from the lab! Sometimes you need to take a break to be able to come back and be more efficient and active!

Today I am trying to survive the heat of Cyprus by wearing another dress to keep cool! I am bringing back a strapless sundress from many years ago, with this paisley black and white print strapless dress from American Eagle Outfitters. I haven't shopped there in the last year or two, mainly because I don't go to the mall as much, and I think my fashion taste has evolved a bit, but I saw this dress in my closet when I was moving and figured I would bring it back! Only thing is I have to wear a strapless bra, which I don't usually like, but for this style its worth it! And once again I am recycling accessories I have styled before, but they really help pull together a great outfit! The purse is a wallet purse that I have worn before, by Franco Sarto, a necklace that I got from Walmart for 5 dollars and never wore because I didn't know what to wear with, and the strappy sandals I have worn with so many outfits - that I got in Hawaii! These are really the perfect sandals because they match well with everything! So less shoes to pack! And they don't hurt your feet (unless you are standing for hours!).

Conference Fashion Transition to going out - Chambray dress and accessories part 2

Hello loves!
This is part 2 of the conference fashion post from Tuesday - but now I bring you an easy way to transition this same outfit into an easy going out/drinks/dinner/nightlife post by just changing some accessories!
Trying to pack light, I packed a lot of different accessories, and planned some outfits that I could transition easily by switching accessories, so I could get the most out of my expeditions out into the city without having to go back to the hotel to change! The statement necklace easily fits in my purse and I can carry my blazer! This is my look for the conference happy hour before heading out for dinner and drinks!
By just a simple removal of the blazer and switching the statement necklace, I feel like it looks like a different outfit! The same chambray dress from eShakti and heels from Nine West, and the same fringe purse! I am thinking of wearing my hair up though, since I wear my hair down a lot, and it is hot!

The original business outfit:

Florals in June - Summer is officially here!

Happy June! 

Everyone talks about how fast time is flying, but jeeze! It is already summer and I am finishing up my 4th year of graduate school! I can't believe that I am getting closer and closer to finishing! Becoming a senior graduate student is rather frightening, but at the same time super cool, as I am much more wiser and knowledgable than I was 4 years ago! And I can say I am feeling rather ready to get a well paying job to finally make some moolah! 

Well, anyway, this past weekend was beautiful, the weather in LA was nice, and I hung out with a bunch of different groups of friends -- I got brunch in West Hollywood on Saturday with some of my LA blogger friends, and then got celebratory drinks in Santa Monica that night with some lab friends. And then Sunday was followed by a nice dinner with some colleagues in Thousand Oaks. I wore this cute floral print dress from H&M (I reused it both days, oops! Fashion paux? Or totally fine if you are going somewhere new/seeing new people?). With some cute sandals and gold accessories, I fell in love with this outfit! Again, I am reusing pieces I have worn before (the accessories and sandals), which makes it nice to get multiple uses out of simple pieces! 

Fringe Kimono and Amethyst Gemstone Necklace - Anjolee Necklace Giveaway!

Hello lovelies! Happy Monday!
I am currently on a high note because I received some good news about my paper, what an amazing way to start my Monday!!! :D Hope you are also having a great start to your week!

Spring/Summer is officially here in LA, and the weather is warming up! Although it has been getting rather chilly at night. Since I have posted multiple times about how obsessed I am with fringe, what a better way to incorporate that into my outfit than a floral kimono cover up with fringe! I have been wearing leggings a lot lately, and I wore this outfit to lab the other day, just with ankle booties instead of sandals! That way, I was still covered up and warm while still being rather fashionable. A simple black outfit underneath (tank top and leggings from Forever 21) with some accent pieces on top!
Since the floral print and fringe made enough of a statement for this simple all black outfit, I decided to pair with a simple diamond pendant necklace I got from Anjolee.com, featuring my birth gemstone, amethyst with some really pretty cubic zirconias in set in silver!

Sunny days are back! Twist and Turn Open back top take 2!

Hello!
I have had such a busy weekend, with another on campus symposium where I presented my research again with a poster and then 12 hours of talks on Saturday! It was awesome but rather tiring! It's nice to be busy but I also enjoy having a few hours to relax. This past week it was very cloudy and gray, which is unusually for LA. But, alas, the sun is back!
Today I am sharing with you another look I created using the Twist and Turn Open Back top by Leaf and Crown that I posted about a few weeks ago! Check out the original post HERE! I wanted a more casual, chill look, so I went with a maxi skirt. Little secret - this is actually a dress that I just rolled the top part down to my waist so it would act as a skirt! I got this skirt/dress from when I went to Hawaii back in September from a local store.  I loved the mint green color contrast with the black pattern, particularly matched with the black top!  I also wore these sandals that I have worn before, that I also got from a local store in Waikiki.

The top detail in the back again I love, and it perfectly hides my bra straps in the back! Super easy to wear and style! You can find/shop for this top on the Leaf and Crown Etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/leafandcrown), and it comes in a variety of colors! I particularly loved the black top but I also loved the top in purple or red!

Beautiful LA Day - Twist and Turn Open back top - Leaf and Crown

Hello loves!

I am attempting to get back to my regular posting schedule, traveling, conference, and lab work has really worn me down the last two weeks! I feel like I already need a vacation and I just got back to work! I am also taking classes on top of lab work, so I am going crazy! 

But anyway, here is a recent outfit I wore to lab and lunch with a friend, and who actually designed the top I am wearing herself, Dina Arrieta, owner, designer and blogger of Leaf and Crown (Leafandcrown.com). It was really hot here in LA, but I had to have my legs covered for lab, so I wore my Zara jeans and usual heeled boots from Target, and I wore this Twist and Turn Open Back Tee. I love wearing black, and this black top was just way too cute and flattering! The neckline was perfect and it hugged my curves in all the right places! The open back detail was just great, I really liked it and it hid my bra straps well! (sorry if thats TMI... but that is a big problem with us girls who can't just not wear a bra!)

Statement Dress to Impress - Spring has sprung!

Spring has sprung, and tomorrow marks the first day of spring (for all of you who aren't in SoCal, for us here in LA, its been summer since the weekend!)! 

On Saturday I headed to a fashion event in Beverly Hills with Samira, a fashion blogger from Stylemesamira.com! Post coming up to recap the event next week! It was a rather hot day (90 degrees F!), and so I busted out my favorite black dress shorts that I have had for years, I believe since I was 16! 

I really wanted to wear my new Midnight Waters Necklace from the Yayoi Collection at Boyajian Trend Gallery, so I tried to come up with an outfit that it would be the centerpiece! I love figuring out outfits to go with statement jewelry pieces, and this was a great opportunity since it was a nice day out! I wore a plain white tank top from Forever21 that I got for $2! and a gray mini vest that I have had for some years, probably since high school as well!

I wanted to wear heels to the event but I knew I would be standing/walking around so I wanted to be comfortable. I wore these heeled sandals that were super comfortable that I bought in Hawaii, from a local store in Waikiki called Island Fever.

I then quickly curled the ends of my hair, which came out nice and took me only 10 minutes! I was amazed at how fast I have become at curling my hair. It also helps that I hadn't washed my hair in a couple of days -- this makes for easier to curl hair! I wore it half up so I could get some of the attention on the necklace!

Road Trip to Vegas, Pit stop fashion

Hello lovelies!

Today I bring you fashion from my recent road trip to Vegas for my birthday! The road trip from LA is a good 4 hour drive, if you don't stop at all...but being cramped into a car for 4 hours can sometimes be unbearable, so we had to stop a little more than half way in the middle of the desert, in Baker, CA. At this pitstop we got some snacks and drinks at the local gas station, and there was some interesting scenery. I busted out my camera and had my friend snap some photos of my outfit. 

Mini pleats and leather deets!

Hello loves! 

As you may know from my previous post, I was in Vegas for the weekend to celebrate my birthday! I tend to post on Mondays and Thursdays, but this outfit made me too excited to wait an extra day to post! :D 

We stayed at Treasure Island, which was cool, and we explored the Strip, ate a lot of great food, shopped, and had some nice drinks to celebrate!

It was rather chilly in Vegas, which is weird because I have only been to Vegas when it was SUPER hot in the summer... but I had packed appropriately and brought a jacket and some booties! 

Friday night we went out to dinner for my birthday at BurGR in Planet Hollywood and it was AMAZING. SO. MUCH. YUMMY. FOOD.

The next day, we walked around the Venetian (shown here), which is one of my favorite hotels. It is so beautiful and picturesque, lots of cool places to take photos!

Semi-formal Presentation Outfit

I had to present my research in front of a seminar class on Monday, and I was rather nervous. I had to summarize my last four years of data into a 40 minute presentation in front of my peers and professors! Since it was just for a seminar class, I didn't have to get all dressed up, but I still wanted to look presentable and nice! This is what I wore, and used accessories to add some flair!

                  

Conference Fashion with Statement Pieces

Some fun news -- I will be a Meeting Blogger for a conference I will be attending for the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) at the end of March in Boston!
I'm really excited because I will get to blog about the science and fashion! I will be presenting my research in a poster session, as well as attending talks from renowned researchers, networking, and making connections with scientists! Stay tuned for outfit posts from the conference as well as some scientific posts - not sure yet if I will be posting here but more info to come soon!

Here is a professional conference look I styled with some statement pieces -  a plain white tank top with a pretty black pencil style skirt with pleats, a perfect canvas for bright, colorful accessories!

I fell in love with this Sasassi Necklace from the Minu Jewels collection of Boyajian Trend Gallery, as well as a lovely green cocktail ring from their Ona Chan collection! I also included a basic Black Gold bracelet from the Yayoi 'Element One' Collection, also available at the Trend Gallery! It was such a cute, subtle, but still statement piece, and very unique from other bracelets I have seen/own/worn!

Greek Festival fashions

This past weekend I attended the Greek Festival at the Greek Church in Koreatown/Downtown LA! In past years I have volunteered to help out but this year I was quite busy so I just headed there to enjoy the festival and food. I headed there with some friends and got a Gyro pita and a frappe! (pictured below) I also bought some yummy greek pastries that I devoured throughout the week! It was great, although I did get a little homesick! It was also rather hot in LA that day, so I wore a coral sun dress from H&M. Did I say I got it on sale for $5?!?!?! Such a steal! And it is easily converted to lab wear by adding some black leggings and boots! Can't wait to wear it to the lab! An easy outfit to go from day to night -- lab with leggings and boots to night with legging removal and heels/sandals!