Dry Shampoo Review

     As part of maintaining my blonde hair, washing less frequently has been a necessity, and with that of course, comes finding a way to get rid of grease in between washes. I naturally tend to have oily hair, so dry shampoo has been a product that I've been using for a while. Recently, I feel that I've come across products that have really left an impression on me and obviously, I'd like to share the knowledge!

Osis+ Refresh Dust

     This dry shampoo was one of the first salon brands that I tested out and Schwarzkopf as a brand has some really great products, so I expected just as much from their dry shampoo. This particular dry shampoo works best for short-term use (i.e. we are just trying to extend in between a wash or so), but doesn't really do well for heavy duty use (at least not in my hair). Although it isn't my number one, it still is on my top five list mainly because it smells great and it does a great job not leaving a grey-cast in my hair.

AG Hair Simply Dry Dry Shampoo

     Ever since trying AG hair products in March, this product has been my ride-or-die. This dry shampoo does an excellent job keeping up with me no matter how long I would like to go in between washes (Which is typically around every three days...maybe four if necessary). Something that I've also noticed is that this is one of those dry shampoos that I don't have to pile on. I can put some on one day and the next day it still has pretty good oil control. As with other AG products, the scent is lovely, and it sprays on without leaving a residue. 

Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Dry Shampoo

     This product was a recent discovery for me and let me tell you, I was impressed. I picked this up on a whim because I wasn't going to get a chance to make it to a salon store with my sister, so I bought this one at my local Target. This was pretty much the only dry shampoo that I used during SPP, and I thought it worked just as well as my beloved AG Simply Dry. Best part? It was only 5!!! So for the people that want to stay at a drugstore price point, I highly recommend that you try this one as it's probably the best drugstore dry shampoo that I've tried. 

Using Dry Shampoo

     

     To get the most out of your dry shampoo, it is best to apply about 4-7 inches away from your scalp and then give it some time to soak in. I typically will apply my dry shampoo and then will go off to do my makeup. When you've given it some time to settle, just use your fingers to work it into your scalp and then massage out the rest. In general, your hair will take some time getting used to not being washed as frequently, but using dry shampoo can help while you are in transition. Over time, your hair will get used to going longer between washes and you won't need to use as much dry shampoo.

     So, for the days that you woke up a bit late from your post-all-nighter nap and you don't have a lot of time to wash your hair, dry shampoo can be your best friend. Also, it is a great thing to use to freshen up after hitting the gym, when you don't want to walk out looking a hot mess, in case you run into the cute Histology T.A. 

I hope you are having a wonderful start to your week, and I will be talking to you soon! 

~Genesis<3

     

The Fitbit Life

     This post is something that I've been itching to write about since I first purchased my Fitbit back in May, but it didn't make sense to write a review until I had actually used it. Now that a couple months have passed, I feel like I've used it enough to give an honest review.

Overview

     The craze in the use of activity trackers has picked up in the past couple years as it seems everyone is on the fitness train. Although I had been interested in getting one for a while, I couldn't justify spending the money for one.  On a random trip to Target, I came upon this Fitbit Charge that was marked down to $69.99 (they are originally priced at $99) and I thought it was an incredible deal. My sister told me that she would pitch in for half of it as my present for starting medical school and with that, I honestly couldn't pass on purchasing it.  So, that brings us to this little blue guy that has been permanently adorning my wrist for the past couple months.

Things I Like 

     Although I don't think you need fancy accessories to live a healthy lifestyle, I do feel that having a Fitbit helps motivate you to make more of a conscious effort. The main thing that a Fitbit does is count your steps and how much activity you are getting in during your day. The original step goal on my tracker was 10,000 steps per day, so I decided to stick with that. In the grand scheme of things, that equates to your average daily activity plus about 30 minutes of actual exercise. To me, that seems pretty good to just ensure that you are getting some activity in. The tracker syncs up to a Fitbit app and that allows you to view your steps and your activity for the day. Additionally, the app allows you to input your water intake, your meals, and check your sleep, as the Fitbit tracks your sleep. I am pretty good about drinking my water, so that's not a feature I use too often and I am not that conscious about tracking every meal. I do like to check out my sleep pattern, though and of course, my steps and activity level. I like that I have a way to hold myself accountable for being healthy as I can go into my app and see the days that I didn't reach my goals. 

This is what the home page for the app looks like.

After a full-day including a workout.

     I haven't used this feature much, but I believe Fitbit connects to other health apps such as My Fitness Pal or Runkeeper so that you can have a better overall connection on your health. I am a huge fan of being able to sync everything up, so that's pretty neat.

What I don't Like

     Unfortunately, the Fitbit model I have doesn't track exercise super well, so although it can register that I did take steps and that I was active for a certain period of time, it doesn't register that I went for a run/walk. I believe the newer versions do happen to measure exercise, though. Also, an issue that I seem to have is that you can't input food/water data for a previous day. Sometimes, I don't have the time to be putting everything in at the moment of doing it, so it would be a nice feature to have.

General Consensus

     Having an activity tracker the past couple months has been pretty great. I have been able to assess what I've been doing with my health and motivate myself to get my 10,000 steps in for the day. I have also been able to see just how much activity I get in without actually "exercising". When I was in the city for SPP, I was easily getting my steps in just by walking around the neighborhood going to grab a coffee. Also, the first weekend of SPP, Em and I went downtown and walked around and I got about 20,000 steps in for that day. It was seriously crazy because it felt like a pretty casual walk around the city. Having a Fitbit isn't essential to your fitness routine, but it is definitely a great addition. I love having one and I'm currently trying to see how I can get the most out of mine.

     I hope my review helped you if you were on the fence about getting one. Have a great rest of your week! I'll talk to you soon! 

~Genesis<3

Life After SPP

     Hello! So, as you can probably imagine, the last couple days I've been busy trying to adjust to being a normal person. I didn't plan out this week's blog posts as well as I could have, so here we are... But, there were definitely a couple things going through my mind, and I figured I could write about that for today's post. 

     First thing, adjusting from a schedule where studying is all I would do to not having a plan at all was quite weird for the first couple days. I didn't really know what to do with myself. It's like going from 100 to 0 real quick (high-five if you got where I was going with that;)), and that can be rather confusing. I've mostly been getting myself a bit more organized, spending quality time with family, and of course thinking about what I would like to do with this blog...that latter portion leads us to the next section.

     Second, Medical school is a month away! I can't even begin to tell you how surreal it feels to know that I am exceptionally close to initiating the genesis of my career. I've honestly worked my butt off to get exactly where I am right now, and although I'm very hard on myself most times, I've been rather proud of this moment. Most importantly, I am excited to share it with you guys! I don't know who follows me (Other than my best friends Megan and G. Hey dolls!), but I want you guys to see what this journey is like, as much as I can. I've been thinking about how much I'd like to share, as you can understand that this is very personal for me, and how much it's safe to share. I know other med bloggers that have posted where they go to school, but I don't personally know how that has impacted them. I can tell you that I attend one of two medical schools located in the Illinois Medical District of Chicago, but I think we shall stop there (if you've been reading my other posts, you'll be able to figure it out).  What my hopes for the future of the blog (the medical portions at least) are to share how my experience is going, what I've been learning, and how I cope with it all. I doubt it will be a glamorous experience, but that's medicine for you.

     Lastly, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who happens to take the time to check out my blog. I know at this point it's my fledgling brainchild, but the excitement I feel when I see my view count increase keeps me going. If there's anything that people would love to hear from me, I say either leave me a comment here or do so on Instagram. This will always be one of my creative outlets, but I also want it to be helpful. So, suggest away! 

     I hope everyone has been having a great start to their week! I apologize that this post is brief, but I will talk to you guys soon!

~Genesis<3

The End of SPP

     Hello! I know that it has certainly been a minute since I have posted anything, and for that,  I greatly apologize. The last week of SPP hit like a wave, so I had to take a step back in order to stay afloat. Thankfully, I will have a few weeks of rest before the beginning of M1 year, so you can expect to see more of me:)

The Final Struggle

     The last week and a half of the program were filled with knowing that the end was near, and with the end came our final hurdle. We finished our last regular exams on Monday and by Tuesday, the thought of finals was very clear in our minds. At that point, we had taken nine exams, but another five exams separated us from the end. Last weekend, I spent the majority of my time trying to prepare for exams. Exam day came and I just tried to give it everything that I had. Hitting "End Test" for the last time (for a while at least) was such an incredible feeling, but definitely surreal as being a quasi-medical student is all I have known for the past six weeks. Overall, I felt like exams went rather well, and we got results today that I did well in the program.  I am so thankful for this experience, and everything that it has allowed me to learn along the way. I've had a taste of what to expect in the next coming year (although I've been told that SPP definitely is more rigorous),  I've begun to build my peer network, and I've been able to verify that I am doing exactly what I love. Trust me, it's not easy, but in the struggle you remember that you are working towards everything that you've ever dreamed of and that is an incredible feeling. I can't wait to begin my journey towards the next four years!

Outfits

   
     Thursday: I was tryin to look put together, so I wore one of my favorite Express portofino shirts with my navy chinos.

     Friday: The warm weather called for shorts, so I whipped out a pair I bought for the summer. I LOVE nautical themed items, so these anchor shorts were a must buy for me. I went for one of my favorite pairings and paired my turquoise anchor shorts with a cobalt tank.

     Monday: It was my last set of normal exams, so I wanted to keep it simple. I went with a classic black and white look. 

     Tuesday: I was seriously loving this outfit. I picked up this top from Gap last summer and it's been so fun to wear! I think it's mostly because of the color.

     Wednesday: I brought out another top that had not yet made it's round. I got this one on sale from JCP from their Liz Claiborne collection.

Thursday: I went for bold combo pairing my daisy print pixie pants with my coral scalloped top. 

     Friday: We were getting to the weekend, so I wanted to just be a bit more relaxed. I paired a Gap tee with my Gap ripped jeans.

     Tuesday: It was the first round of finals, so I just kept it really simple. That and I wanted to wear my Kate Spade keds. 

    Wednesday: The struggle was real. I didn't have time to snap a pic, but I just wore my black zip leggings with a chambray shirt. I've shown both of them on the blog before, so I figured it's not a big deal.

    I hope you guys enjoyed the update! I am hoping that I can go back to a regular schedule next week. I need to think up some posts first:) I hope you guys have a fabulous week and I'll be talking to you soon!

~Genesis<3

June Recap 2016

     Hello All! I'd be lying if I didn't say that June was for sure a crazy one. As you may know, the bulk of my month has been made up of my SPP program ( Which I've kept you updated on!) and when I wasn't in class, the rest of my time was spent studying or doing normal human things. On occasion, I had the opportunity to break away from my everyday routine and do something somewhat fun, so instead of my normal week-to-week breakdown, this post will be more focused on this month's highlights. 

Highlights

     The first weekend in June, I had the chance to meet up with my Chicago squad. We hadn't had the opportunity to see each other in May, so it was really nice to catch up for a bit. We ventured out of our normal areas and checked out a little Tiki Bar in Logan Square called the Lost Lake. I was so glad that I stumbled upon this little place on Instagram because the drinks were amazing and the atmosphere was great. The place itself was small and intimate, but I think that made it all the more enjoyable. After a hectic first week, I was so glad to "get lost" for a bit with two of my best friends.

Our drinks were so pretty and obviously, so is G:)

My ride-or-dies

     The following weekend, my escape from studying was meeting up with my work friends in the suburbs. It had been quite some time since I had seen them, so it was nice to be able to see what everyone has been up to since I left. We celebrated Shay's birthday at Maggiano's and it was a great night filled with yummy food and lots of laughter. I feel that it was one of the first times that I felt what it might be like next year because although I was having a great time, at the back of my mind I was thinking about everything that I needed to study. Of course, my advice on that is to not do that to yourself, but we all have our moments. 

The Birthday Girl!

My work fam!

      The following weekend was Father's Day, but I also had exams to study for, so the most that I had the chance to do was go out to brunch with my parents. It was so nice to spend some time with them and we've really come to love this little place downtown. They make some amazing green chilaquiles, but the ricotta rhubarb pancakes I had were amazing as well!

     This past weekend was also spent studying hard for Anatomy and Physiology, but I snuck out to spend some time with Megan. We checked out Jeni's ice cream shoppe in Wicker Park, and it was AMAZING! They have some pretty creative ice cream flavors and they are all delicious. I happened to pick three different scoops: Atlantic Beach Pie ( a lemon version of key lime pie that had pieces of saltine crackers), Lemon and Blueberry, and Lavender. They were all amazing, but my favorite was the Atlantic Beach Pie. Wicker Park is one of my favorite areas of the city, so it was so amazing to have the chance to explore it a little more.

Meg all smiles because the ice cream was delicious

Best friends + Ice Cream = Pure Happiness

My delicious concoction

     I hope you enjoyed getting a little glimpse into what I've been doing for June. I've heard that M1 year offers way more breathing room that I've been given for this program, so hopefully my monthly recaps won't have to continue being in this format. Also, the good news is that next week I'm officially done with this program! So, I will also have a bit more freedom. I'll be combining the recap for the last two weeks into one post and that should be up next Friday! I'll be in exams Tuesday/Wednesday so I won't have time to write it until Thursday. 

      Hopefully, you guys had an amazing month! I can't wait to share what I get myself into for the month of July!

~Genesis<3

SPP Update: Week Four

     As I am writing this, I am in disbelief that the upcoming week will be the last week of the program! Regarding exams, we still have seven more to complete. The thought of having to take all of these exams in the span of a two weeks is a tad daunting, but knowing that after that I will be all done with this program makes it all worth it. 

Classes and Studying

     The set of exams that I had for this week were biochem and histology. Biochem was focused on cellular processes (Enzymes, DNA, DNA replication, etc.) this week and that wasn't too bad because they were topics that I've seen numerous times in my biological studies. Something that they always factor in is the clinical correlation, so that made the class a tad more interesting. Histology, on the other hand, had a lot of new and complex material. In general, you can tell cells apart (especially when you know what to look for), but certain tissues are very similar and that was the struggle of this week. We covered quite a few areas of the body, so that added to the madness.

     Studying wasn't horribly bad. I am pretty good at being disciplined, but having back to back exams is really draining. We finish our exam on Monday and the next day you've got to be on the grind to prep for the next set. Thankfully, the school year won't be like that. I'm just trying to remind myself that this will all be over soon. 

Outfits

     Thursday: I wore one of my favorite summer tops. I don't know about you, but I'm kind of a fan of the off the shoulder trend. I paired it with my patterned Old Navy pixie pants and some black sandals.

     Friday: I went for a black and coral look. The top has some pretty detailing on the back, but otherwise,  it was a pretty straightforward outfit.

     Monday: It has been very hot in Chicago, so I just went for some linen shorts and my flowy embroidered top. 

     Tuesday: I seriously have had this forever 21 top for years, and it makes a comeback every summer. I am a huge fan of the detailing at the neckline, and I like to pair it with some jeans for a cute yet laidback look.

     Wednesday: Today, I went for a classic red/navy color combo. I borrowed the silk scarf from Emily, and I think it dressed up my outfit from just being a basic striped tee. 

     I believe I addressed it last week, but it's been fun thinking about different ways to wear the same items. I am curious to see what I'll be able to come up with for the last couple weeks! I am sorry that these are short! I'm trying to give you guys the gist of what's going on, but trying not to overextend myself at the moment. I hope you guys are doing well and thank you for taking the time to stop by and see what I've been up to:) I'll talk to you guys soon!

~Genesis<3

SPP Update: Week Three

     Wow, so I can't believe we are already at the half-way mark for this program. I am hoping that the last couple weeks fly by so that I can enjoy a bit of my summer before starting my M1 year. This past week felt rather hectic for me. I had a lot of unexpected responsibilities thrown into the mix, and I was feeling the stress. The weekend was packed with things I needed to do and studying was a very large portion of that. I just trudged through and after testing on Monday, I was super exhausted. So, I'm sure you noticed that I didn't post on Tuesday and that had a lot to do with just being crazy busy this past weekend. I'm thinking that I might go ahead and stick to a once weekly schedule just because it will be less stressful for me, and I won't feel obligated to post something just to ensure that I have a post. If I do have anything additional to post, I'll try to post Tuesday. If not, you can for sure expect something from me on Thursdays. Anyway, other that being really busy, this week has been very revelatory that I am doing exactly what I should be, so that's what we'll discuss next.

Classes and Studying

     As I began to tell you last week, the latter half of the week was very anatomy oriented and I LOVED it. I had my teach back on Thursday and it was the first time that I really got a chance to interact with the cadaver. It was like a flashback to high school biology because I jumped right into it. I can't exactly tell you how crazy it feels to be able to just be all up in someone's body learning all the things that allow us to function the way that we do, but it was an incredible feeling. I think in that moment, it helped to clear any of the hesitation that I had working with cadavers and anatomy lab has become one of my favorite places. Anatomy is by no means easy, but I think that is the most hands-on experience that we'll have as med students for a bit. So, it is important to enjoy it. They often say that the cadavers we work with are our "first patients" and I can see that. Obviously, I am not practicing my bedside manner, but I am learning many of the things that will allow me to become an excellent physician one day and that is super cool. 

     Studying has been alright. I was kinda stressed because I felt like I didn't have enough time to study the way that I wanted, but it worked out well. So, I shouldn't have been as hard on myself. It was definitely a different feel because we had just come off of studying for one set of tests and had to jump back into it, so I think that made a huge difference. My motivation has been pretty good, and I have been a pretty hardcore morning person the past couple of weeks. I'm usually up by 6:00 to get some studying in before class starts at 9:00. It's not exactly my favorite, but I'll do what I have to do.    

     This week, I'll be preparing for my second histology and biochemistry exam, so that will comprise my studying for the week. 

Outfits

     Thursday: I wore my olive linen jacket over a black striped high-low tank, black leggings with a zipper detailing at the ankle, and my black sandals.

     Friday: I wanted to go for a girlier vibe, so I paired a white lace dress ( I got this one at H&M forever ago) with a chambray shirt and my nude sandals. 

      

     Monday: I was so tired, so not a lot of consideration went into outfit planning. I just went for a casual look. I wore my favorite pair of Gap ripped jeans with this light blue top ( I love the back detailing on this top!) and my camel sandals.

     Tuesday: I finally brought out my shirt dress! This was super cute, but sadly it wrinkles like crazy, so I was kind of annoyed by that. Regardless, I was feeling really classy. I paired it with my nude sandals and threw on a navy cardigan when it got a bit chilly in class.

     Wednesday: It was super hot outside, so I opted to go for some white linen shorts and a navy striped tank from the loft. I also brought along a chambray shirt and I threw that on when it got a bit chilly in class.

     Something that I've noticed as I've been doing these posts is that a lot of the pieces in my wardrobe mix and match really well. I haven't done an official capsule wardrobe, but I feel that for many of these outfits I have been incorporating that. 

     Like I said earlier, the remainder of the week I shall be studying hard for biochem and histo. Nothing too crazy over here. If you read my post last Tuesday, you'll know that I had been apartment hunting. Well, my roomie and I found a place! We still have to finish the paperwork and what not, but I can't wait to show it to you and talk about decorating it:) I hope you guys have a fantastic week! I'll talk to you soon!

~Genesis<3