May 2012 Birchbox Review

I was so excited to open my second box, but my initial reaction was a little disappointment. Maybe my expectations were too high. After seeing other May boxes that look better than mine, I'm wondering if I just picked the wrong answers for my beauty profile. Once I took a closer look at what I received, I decided the samples were not too bad. These are all definitely products I have never bought.

 

 The special edition Gossip Girl Birchbox

  

 Description card

  

Dr. Jart BB cream.  

This was light and blended well with my skin. I don't normally wear foundation, so I might try this out for a wedding I have in the near future.

The contents of the wrapped package:

Color Club nail polish in "Disco Nap", Sugar Rose tinted lip treatment, Twistband Hair Tie

The Sugar Rose lip treatment looks more pigmented than it does once you actually use it.  It glides on very smoothly and looks very natural, with only a slight pink tint.  I love that it has SPF 15!  This is pretty expensive, so I'm not sure if I'd actually spend the money to buy it.  Sephora is also offering a free 2 lip treatment pack to Beauty Insiders on their birthday this year!

The Color Club polish is fun and shimmery.  No glitter in this polish, but the metallic sheen still makes it pop.  I painted my toenails this color.  Here is a close-up.

XOXO greeting card and envelope.  Not sure when I'll be using this one.

Atelier Cologne in Vanilla Insensee. Came with a postcard.  The cologne smells warm and inviting.

Overall most excited about the lip balm and the nail polish.  I could definitely go without fragrance samples in the future...I have way too many anyway.  I also feel like BB cream and last month's tinted moisturizer are pretty similar.  I guess I wanted to try out Birchbox to see if it would introduce me to really new and exciting beauty and skincare products that I would never pick up on my own.  I think I'm going to give it 1-2 more months, but I'm just not sure it's worth it to me.

H&M Fitting Room Reviews

H&M recently released a high value 35% off one item coupon in celebration of Kara winning Fashion Star (valid until May 27).  Since I'm only really free until mid-June (start of residency, eek!), I wasted no time in heading over to see what shiny new item of clothing I could use the coupon on.  I circled through the store pretty quickly, since I had seen most of the items on my last shopping trip.  I grabbed four items that peaked my interest and headed to the fitting room.

Conscious Collection Floral Blouse

Please excuse my teal bra peeking through, I did not bring a cami into the fitting room!

 
Size 2, item # 454690, $19.47 after coupon (original price $29.95)
This blouse has been on the racks for a while, but I was able to find a couple left in my store.  I had originally been eying this during my last H&M conscious collection shopping spree, but convinced myself I did not need it.  Whelp, since this coupon took off 1/3 of the cost and this was the last size 2 in stores, I decided that it was finally meant to be.  The material is very light and breathable.  It's made from 100% recycled polyester, so it's far from feeling soft (actually feels kind of like tulle).  The print, however, is definitely quite fashionable, and I can mix and match this top with a lot of other elements of my wardrobe.  The only other cons are that it is very sheer and the sleeves are a bit long on my short arms, but nothing a camisole/tank underneath and sleeve-rolling can't fix!
VERDICT: Purchased with coupon

Cobalt Pencil Skirt

Size 4, item# 643160, $11.70 after coupon (original price $17.95)
I've been looking for a vibrant blue pencil skirt since last fall, and I can finally cross it off my list! The size 4 was very form-fitting but still allowed a lot of movement. I also like the exposed gold zipper down the back.  The material is 98% cotton and 2% elastane.  I know that cotton skirts have an affinity for wrinkling easily, but I'm hoping this skirt won't look too bad since I'm on my feet and walking around all day long.  Currently, with my student debt, the J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt is slightly out of my price range (but once I become an attending, I'm coming for you!).  It's a little easier for me to justify spending less than $20 on a skirt that could very well get puked on. 
VERDICT: Purchased

Tweed Jacket in Pink with Black Trim

Size 2, item #055671, $32.50 after coupon (original price $49.95)
This jacket has also been on shelves for some time, but I finally decided to give it a try.  The material was pretty comfortable. Fit was okay in the shoulder area, but the sleeves were definitely too long.  I really like tweed tops on other people, but I'm not sure I can rock this look well.  I think I'll take baby steps and start out with a tweed skirt before I venture into tweed blazer territory.
VERDICT: Passed but still on the lookout for an affordable tweed skirt!

Snake Print Pleated Dress

Size 4, item# 976000, $12.96 after coupon (originally $34.95 but on sale for $19.95)
I am usually a size 2-4 on top, but this dress felt like it ran a little small in the chest area.  I think the print is fun for casual day wear, but I just didn't need it.
VERDICT: Passed

OOTD: Graduation Edition

Good Morning, all!  Just wanted to share some photos from my medical school graduation :)

 My graduation outfit.

The Limited seamed sheath dress in dark pink (similar shorter versions here and here), Amrita Singh Milot Necklace (see my review here), Mossimo Pearce Patent Pumps in camel

 

 Right after receiving my diploma.

 

Photo with my swag and my grandma (Nai Nai).

Recent Purchases (H&M, Target, BR, Nordstrom Rack)

Just bought these last weekend and wanted to share.

Banana Republic V- neck Colorblock Cardigan

Size S, item # 44205001, on sale for $14.99 (original price $59.50)

Well-made and very soft.  Material is 49% cotton, 32% polyester, 16% nylon, 3% lycra spandex. The sleeves are on the longer side but not a problem when worn scrunched.  Love the vibrant orange-red color!

Also wearing Loft knit dress (old) and nude Mossimo (Target) Pearce pumps (in camel)

VERDICT: Keep

Merona V-neck Cardigan (Target)

Size S, item #015025325, on sale for $12.98 (original price $24.99)

I had been wanting a chartreuse cardigan for some time now, so I was very happy to find this in my size on the clearance rack.  This cardigan is much slimmer and thinner than the BR one, but it's 100% cotton.  It also has a rosette pattern running along the V-neck, but they are not too noticeable when worn unbuttoned.

VERDICT: Keep

 H&M Printed Maxi Dress

 

Size XS, item #029587, price $17.95 (bought with coupon for $14.95)

This item is from their "Basic" collection. I really liked this print when I spotted it in the store. It is the perfect length for me (I'm 5 feet 2.5 inches) and won't need to be hemmed.  Without shoes it skims the floor, but with any type of shoe it's fine.  The knit material is very stretchy, but I'm not sure this silhouette is one that I'm looking for.  I had in mind that I wanted a more flowy maxi (think fuller bodied skirt), so my decision to keep this will be dependent upon what else I see in stores!

VERDICT: Still deciding

H&M Swimwear

Turquoise Paisley Padded Bra Top and Bottom
Top size 34A32B, bottom size 4, item # 035572 and 035530, price $4.95 per piece
Super affordable!  Even if I only get a couple wears out of it, I won't feel too guilty. The bottoms fit very well, but I'm still iffy on the top.  Not sure if it's either the style or just that the cup size is too small, but it seems a little low-cut and I feel like my girls might pop out.  This was the very last padded top in store so I took it home, but I'm on the hunt to see if a 32B might have slightly better coverage. Found this in size 32B and fits MUCH better!
VERDICT: Keep...such an AMAZING price!

Mossimo Ona ballet flats (Target)- cheetah print

 

Size 8, item # 096064478, price $14.99

Should still be in stores, but unavailable online.

I'm typically a 7-7.5 in flats, but the elastic backing on these flats pushed my toes forward.  I would recommend sizing up by 1/2 size or 1 whole size.  I also got a slightly larger size so that I could add insoles.  These flats do not offer much support for your feet.  I do enjoy the soft mohair-like material for the outer portion, and I like the spot size and overall color of the shoe (Note: Top right photo featuring close-up of the spots is the best for depicting the actual color).

VERDICT: Return.  The elastic band keeps pushing my toes forward, and it's just not that comfortable.  Target has another leopard print shoe that has larger spots.  I found the two pairs that were sent to me to be very wide.  If you have wide feet, order your true size or 1/2 size down.  I ended up returning those flats as well.

Collection Eighteen Scarf from Nordstrom Rack

One Size, Price $14.97

Really lightweight and such a vibrant color.  I like that it is two-toned.  Bright orange has become one of my favorite colors to wear, as I think it works really well in spring, summer, and fall!

VERDICT: Probably keep

April Birchbox Recap

Sorry this is a little late! I just signed up for the Birchbox beauty program and received my first month's box last week. Since I got it much later than everyone else, I'll just post pics of what I received. Next month's box will be a full review.

 

I was so excited to receive my pretty pink box.

 The card detailing this month's products.

 

 

All natural cleansing towlettes (nice size)                                        Tinted Moisturizer

  
  Birchbox's signature wrapped surprise

 Contents of the wrapped package: argan oil, exfoliative face wash, Taylor Swift Wonderstruck fragrance, and facial lotion.

Proper Footwear for Running

Let me start by saying that I have flat feet, which are not the most ideal for running.  With that being said, I used to buy my sneakers at places like Dick's Sporting Goods or Modell's.  While the prices can be quite cheap, in my experience the sales associate usually has very little knowledge about the most appropriate footwear for your specific foot type.  I spent years wearing shoes that were very inappropriate for my feet.  Then I found the light and started going to smaller stores that specialized in running shoes.  In these types of places the owner(s) and sales associates are often runners themselves.  The smaller specialized stores also have a much better variety of shoes and more brands than just Nike and Adidas. Although the shoes here are not as heavily discounted as they are in major retailers, the service and one-on-one attention you receive are well worth the increase in price. (Don't forget you can still ask for discounts!  My running store always gives me an extra 10% discount or $10 off a pair of sneakers.)

Before we jump to shoe pictures, I wanted to give you a quick rundown of common foot types.

• The most common foot type is the normal or "neutral" foot (meaning your arches are just right).  Neutral feet are compatible with a wide range of shoes and are least susceptible to injury...lucky. 

• Another type is the "high-arched" foot, which tend to roll outwards during motion (supination/underpronation).  Depending on how highly arched your feet are and your activity level, you may benefit from orthotics.  Even if you don't need orthotics, high-arched feet often require shoes that have more cushioning and flexibility in the midsole to help with shock absorption along your arches during impact.  

• The last common foot type is the "flat" foot, i.e. no arches (me!).  Since the natural arch of the foot tends to collapse with every step, flat feet tend to roll inward during walking and running.  Another term for this inward-rolling motion of the foot is overpronation.  See a trend here?  People with flat feet often require orthotics and need shoes that emphasize stability and motion-control.  This means that the shoes are less flexible so that the excessive rolling motion can be limited.

For more information on foot types and appropriate footwear, I found this site to be a good resource.


Once you know what type of foot you have and you've checked out some shoes that work best for your foot type, you'll want to pick out the size that is best for you. Always remember that sneaker size is not necessarily the same as your regular shoe size.  While I wear between a 7-7.5 in flats and heels, my sneakers are always anywhere between an 8-9.  Some tips for buying proper fitting sneakers:

• Sneakers should fit with a little extra room to give your feet space to breathe!  Your feet often expand as you run, so you should take this into account when trying on sneaks.  A good tip is to have a friend/the sales associate press on the tip of the shoe to make sure there is a thumb's width of space between the front of the shoe and your longest toe.
• If you have orthotics, bring them to the store with you and make sure they fit well in the shoe!
• Test out the fit and comfort in store by walking around in the sneakers.  My running store actually encourages their customers to run around the store in the shoes they are trying on and also has treadmills for this purpose as well.
• Ideally you should replace your old running shoes after you've logged 350-500 miles in them.  For an avid runner who runs about 5 miles 5 days a week, this will be about 3-4 months. (I'm actually not the greatest at replacing my shoes on time and often run in them way longer than I should.)

Note: The rest of this post is dedicated to my own personal shoe experience.

Now, onto the shoes! Here are a few pictures of some of my previous running shoes. The pair on the left is an older version of the Nike Air Equalon series (now discontinued?).  This shoe was advertised as having maximum support and stability.  My Nike's were actually very comfortable, but I believe they tend to run a little wide and have an especially large toe box. These shoes are pretty heavy and really bulky.  Someone once commented that I looked like I was wearing clown shoes haha. As you can see in the photo below, both outer edges along the heel are severely worn down, which means I logged a lot of miles...and I still tended to overpronate in these.

Left: Nike Air Equalon, size 9

Right: Asics Gel-Fortitude 3, size 8

The sneakers on the right are Asics Gel-Fortitude 3 (current version here), and they are much lighter and slimmer than the Nike's.  These are touted as giving maximum support for large framed runners with a neutral gate.  While I am neither large framed nor a neutral foot, my running shoe lady wanted to try these after my obvious overpronation in the Nike's.  Since I have an orthotic to help bring my foot to the correct position, I no longer needed special shoes geared for people with flat feet. Shoes for overpronation, in conjunction with my orthotics, gave me too much support along the arches and thus caused my feet to roll out (what I was trying to avoid in the first place).  These shoes didn't fit properly as there was a gap between my orthotic and the upper portion of the midsole, which caused my feet to constantly rub against the edge of my orthotic and gave me blisters.  But my mom has since put them to use, so not a total waste!

My current running shoes are the Brooks Dyad. Love these shoes!  Like the Asics, they are lightweight and also quite slim for supportive running shoes. I also find the toe box to be more narrow than the previous two shoes, but still wide enough to be comfortable for my feet. This shoe is characterized as being ideal for "Neutral flat-footers and those requiring extra room (for orthotics)".  Perfect for me.  You'll notice some wearing down in the heel portion, but it is less one-sided than my Nike's.

Brooks Dyad, size 8.5, width Medium (B)

I'll end the post with a quick view of my beloved orthotics.  If anyone would like more information on orthotics or footwear, please let me know!  Since I am dating a podiatrist, I am more than happy to share the information that I have learned :)