Caffeine crash

Hair: Gibson Tuck (instructions here)

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt:  Halogen (thrifted) |  Skirt & Belt:  Bill Blass New York (thrifted)  |  Cardigan:  Ann Taylor Loft (thrifted)  |  Shoes:  Nine West (thrifted)

Experimenting once again with the belt-over-cardigan look.  (Also my bangs need cut-like-whoah, but I'm too chicken to try myself.)  I'm SO glad I left some cardigans in my closet when I put away my winter clothes last week, because it's downright CHILLY out there!

Yep...it's rainy and cold, and my back is just about broken from fighting with horses this past week.  Human beings were NOT meant to hold up horses!  I'm just amazed though that my first week of clinics is already over...and SOMEHOW I survived!  Yippee!  If this past week is any indication, then my clinical year of veterinary school is going to FLY by.  I'm not sure how I feel about that, because that means all too soon I'll have to start job hunting...

What a strange concept... getting PAID to work!  I wonder what that will be like?  Heh.

This morning I went to a "coffee roast" event held by local coffee brewers downtown.  For a $5 entry fee you could go from booth to booth sampling as much coffee and espresso as you desired.  It was really fun and delicious, but now I'm experiencing a sort of caffeine crash.  I'm going out with some friends tonight, so I think I'll be an old lady and lay down for a nap this afternoon.  Judge me if you will, but I do so love a good afternoon nap!

Hope you all are having a FANTASTIC Saturday, my dears!

Linking up to:

Pastel pleats

I'm stuck inside, again, so bear with me folks...

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt: Isabella Rodriguez (via TJ Max)  |  Skirt: Vintage  |  Shoes:  Nine West (thrifted)  |  Belt: Francesca's Collections

I carried this skirt around with me at the thrift store for a good hour before I finally decided to buy it.  It was only 99 cents, so I figured I didn't have a whole lot to lose if I couldn't figure out how to style it.  I've been desperate to find a pleated skirt since I've since I've seen so many fashion bloggers pulling them off so nicely,  and when I stumbled upon this one I just had to buy it.  Unfortunately though...the pattern...well...

Okay, I'll just say it: I don't like this pattern.  Not really at all.

But I like a good challenge just like the next fashion blogger, and for 99 cents decided to say, "GAME ON."

This was actually the third top I tried pairing with this skirt, and I liked this look the best.  Yet in the end, I'm still not sure I love it.  Maybe keep trying?  What do you think - pitch it, or try again?

In other news, day 3 of equine clinics was a blast.  I just love working with horses, and there's nothing like spending the day outside in a barn to raise your spirits!  :)

Linking up to:

Inspiration Monday: Emma Stone, clinics, and me.

Yesterday's "Inspiration Monday" photo at Two Birds featured the lovely Emma Stone:

And here was my take on the Emma's look:

What I'm Wearing:
Cardigan: Alfani (TJ Max)  |  Shirt:  No tag (hand-me-down from sister)  |  Jeans:  House of Derreon (Macy's) |  Belt: Thrifted   |  Shoes: Thrifted  |  Earrings:  Eiffel Towers from TLC Creations

Alas, I do not have a totally rockin' blazer like Miss Stone wore in this picture, but I do have a cardigan very close to the same color to pair with a gray top.  Also alas, I was forced to take pictures inside today due to the neighbors' kids climbing all over our shared backyard, so I had a heck-of-a-time getting the colors to come out right.  Indoor pictures = stressed out Megan!  Maybe that's why my expression is so odd in all of these photos...

Well, that and because I'm pretty exhausted.  Today was my 2nd official day of clinics, and it is really wearing me out!  I'm on call all night until 8am tomorrow morning for equine emergencies, and I'm praying I don't get called in.  Emergencies do tend to be interesting cases, but I would love an evening of rest.  Hopefully I'll build up some stamina the further into clinics I get, or else this is going to be a really long year!

At least it's not raining...I LOVE working outside when the weather is gorgeous like this!  Sure beats seating inside a lecture hall for hours on end!

Now I'm off to the store to purchase a new thermometer, because mine broke today after using it on the first 5 horses.  Oops! ;)

Linking up to: 

Two Birds: Inspiration Monday

Kitty kidneys and clouds.

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt: Charlotte Russe (hand-me-down from sister) |  Jeans: House of Derreon  |  Boots: Thrifted - similar boots here |  Necklace: Present from sister  |  Bracelets:  old - maybe Kohl's?  |  Earrings:  Handmade gift from friend  |  Jacket: Rampage Clothing Co. (hand-me-down from friend)  

Hair:
Twisted, with a sloppy pull-through bun.

So it seems the weather realized, "Oh crap! It's too soon for summer weather! Back to spring!"  On one hand I'm thankful, because I really disliked turning the air conditioning on in MARCH.  On the other hand, my first rotation (which starts on Monday) is "equine field services", meaning I'll be outside taking care of horses.  I would actually prefer to have sunshine and warmth for this rotation, please!  Sigh.

This has actually been a pretty depressing week.  On Tuesday I took my cat Abby into the vet hospital for x-rays because I felt a strange lump in her abdomen.  It didn't feel like kidney to me, but the location seemed odd for it to be anything else.  The x-rays came back and, in looking at them, we discovered that both of her kidneys are small and her right kidney is lumpy-bumpy.  So it turns out it was in fact her right kidney that I was feeling, but I didn't recognize it due to its small, abnormal shape.  We decided to do bloodwork and a urinalysis on her to check her kidney function.  

Diagnosis?  It looks like my poor dear has early stage renal disease.

Renal failure is not at all unusual in older cats.  In fact, it is one of the reasons why it's so important to take your cat to the veterinarian yearly for checkups, especially once they hit the age of 7 years.  There's not much I can do right now for Miss Abby since she's not showing any clinical symptoms, but it is SO important to just know that her kidneys are bad so that I can look out for any of the tell-tale signs of disease progression.  I also may switch her to a prescription diet specifically formulated for cats with kidney disease.  I'll have to take her back into the hospital in 6 months for more bloodwork, just to make sure her disease isn't progressing.

Luckily I caught it early, so I can be extra vigilant in looking out for the clinical signs of chronic renal failure (such as drinking and urinating a lot).  I'm also giving Abby an extra heaping dose of pets, cuddles, and loving, because she's so special to me and I'm so thankful she's in my life.

Abby, taking a nap in the sunshine after returning home from the hospital.

If you have a pet, give him/her an extra cuddle today.  How I wish they could all live forever!

Linking up to:

Trending Through the Decades

Lavender sunshine

It has pockets!  Don't you just love dresses and skirts with pockets?

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: George (hand-me-down from friend)  |  Belt: Thrifted  |  Shoes: Target  |  Necklace: Craft show

Um...is it really spring?  Because this certainly feels more like summer!  I'm indoors with the air conditioning on so that my poor chinchilla doesn't have a heat stroke.  Where'd ya go, spring?

Anyway, it occurred to me today that I am a bit lazy when it comes to shoes.  I feel like I wear my red flats WAY more than I ought to, but they are so comfortable and seem to go with most anything!  Perhaps I should give myself permission to do a little shoe shopping this week.  After all, I deserve to have SOME fun during my spring break. :)

I'm a bit undecided about this dress.  First of all, it's made out of the type of fabric that wrinkles if you even look at it.  It is, however, delightfully light and airy - perfect for hot summer days!  Second, it has one of those built-in tank tops.  I'm trying to decide whether or not to take out the built-in tank top, to give me more pairing options.  What do you think?  Should I take it out?

By the way, I just LOVE all the comments you ladies have been leaving for me.  I promise to visit each and every one of your blogs - just give me a little time, and it will happen!  So nice to meet ya'll!

Linking up to: 

Whatever Whenever Wednesday

P.S. March is ADOPT A GUINEA PIG month! There are so many guinea pigs in shelters waiting for a good home.  They make fantastic pets, so won't you consider bringing one into your life?  Click the logo below for more information!

Almost like a vacation...

The "Inspiration Monday" photo on Two Birds featured the lovely Olivia Wilde in a Maxi Dress, leather jacket, and sneakers.

My outfit didn't end up having that much in common with Miss Wilde's, other than the maxi dress and sunglasses.  For one thing, it is WAY too gorgeous and warm outside to wear a leather jacket or closed-toe shoes.  Also I'm a bit too much of a girly-girl to wear sneakers with a dress.  It looks great on Olivia, but I'm not a fan of the style on myself.

Look!  Bushes are blooming!

What I'm Wearing:

Maxi Dress:  Grass Collections (Macy's)  |  Cardigan:  Forever 21 (thrifted)  |  Shoes:  DSW

I loved pulling this maxi dress out of my closet because I typically only wear it on vacations.  This week is spring break and my LAST time off before starting clinics next Monday.  Instead of going on vacation, as many of my classmates are, I am staying in town to work on writing my MPH thesis.  So I just loved pulling on this dress because it's almost like I'm on a "staycation"!

This past weekend was actually quite a big deal because Saturday was my White Coat Ceremony!  At this event, a current veterinarian puts a white coat on a third year veterinary student, signaling their transition into their 4th year of school and first year of clinical medicine.  Wikipedia goes even further to describe it as having "a quasi-religious significance, that symbolizes a 'conversion' of a lay person into a member of the healthcare profession and is similar to a priest's ordination to priesthood."  The day was made even MORE special because my sister, who is already a veterinarian, agreed to "coat" me!  Here are a couple (really poor) cell phone photos from the event. My parents took much nicer photos with their camera, so hopefully I'll have those soon! 

My sister, Kelley, "coating" me!

Ta-Da!  Starting to look like a doctor. :)

 Well, back to work!  Unfortunately this thesis isn't going to write itself...

P.S. Thank you for the feedback on my last outfit!  The heels overwhelmingly won, and I totally agree with you ladies.  :)  Heels it is!

Linking up to:

Inspiration Monday

This or That: Shoe Dilemma

Let's play a game.  It's called "THIS, or THAT."  Ready?  Let's go!

THIS:

or THAT:

What I'm Wearing:

Dress:  Target (thrifted) |  Cardigan:  Old Navy (thrifted)   |  Belt:  Thrifted   |  Boots:  Tractor Supply Company (my old riding boots)   |  Heels:  Nine West (thrifted)

Have you ever put together an outfit and couldn't decide for the life of you what shoes to wear?  I had one of those days today...  In fact, I wore the heels for part of the day and boots the rest of the time.

So tell me the truth: which do you like better?  And "neither" is a perfectly acceptable answer!  In fact I'm not even sure I'm in love with this outfit, so you won't hurt my feelings.

By the way, I found out that I passed my pharmacology final exam with flying colors!  :)  I am so happy I could burst!  Look out clinics, here I come!

Linking up to:

The Letter 4

Rockin' the 80's earrings

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt: Little Yellow Button (thrifted) |  Belt:  Francesca's  |  Skirt:  Sigrid Olsen (thrifted)  |  Shoes: Target  |  Earrings: Thrifted

Last year I went to the SAVMA Symposium in Davis, California with several classmates.  SAVMA is the national veterinary student organization, and every year a different vet school hosts a three day event for students from all across the country to get together for lectures and networking activities.  One of the nights was an 80's Dance Party, and I purchased the most outrageous vintage 80's dress from the thrift store to wear for the evening.  To complete the look, I purchased these bright pink hexagon earrings - perfect for the 80's!  Never in a million years did I think that I would wear them again, unless to another 80's night...

Today, I couldn't resist. 

Crazy?  Maybe.  But I figured hey, why not?  What goes better with a bright pink skirt than giant bright pink earrings?

By the way, a girl could get used to all this sunshine. :)

Linking up to:

Whatever Whenever Wednesday

Victory!

What I'm Wearing:

Cardigan: The Limited (thrifted) |  Tank top:  Thrifted (no tag)   |  Skirt:  Mossimo (thrifted)   |  Shoes:  Target 

I did it!  I did it!   I am completely finished with finals, FOREVER!  Of course, this is assuming that I passed my pharmacology exam today...  It wasn't TOO awful, so hopefully that means I passed and am officially DONE with classes.  It's such a surreal, awesome feeling!

As soon as I finished my last exam I drove straight to the hair salon for a haircut.  It needed it, BADLY, and I feel SO much better now.  As you can tell in the photos, I only had a couple inches taken off and the layers cleaned up.  There's nothing like a haircut to rejuvenate and refresh you after a couple of long, hard weeks!  Plus it certainly helps that it is in the low 70's with sunshine today.  Perfect for my sunny mood!

During one of my study breaks yesterday, I stumbled on this video.  It made me smile (even through my finals week misery!), so I thought I'd share it with you guys:

I hope you are having a JOYOUS day, wherever you are! :)

A (lovely) study day.

What I'm Wearing:

Tank Top: Thrifted (no tag) |  Blouse:  Fortune Cookie (hand-me-down from sister)  |  Jeans:  Delia's (thrifted)  |  Boots:  Tractor Supply Company (my old riding boots)  |  Bracelet:  Gift from friend (from her travels abroad)

I'm taking a short study break to post this, as I've spent the entire day in Starbucks studying my life away for finals.  It is absolutely GORGEOUS outside, and I'm heartbroken that I've had to spend it indoors studying.  

I found this old blouse the other day while organizing my closet, and decided to try pairing it with a sparkly tank top I'd picked up from the thrift store a few months ago.  I thought it made kind of an interesting color contrast, since the tank is kind of a bronze color (although it doesn't show up that well in the pics).  Nothing too special for a day spent studying!

P.S.  I hate Daylight Savings Time!  Why does it always happen during finals, so I LOSE an hour of studying? Boo!!