How I Add Style to Scrubs!

I’ve had so many people tell me they are jealous that I get to wear scrubs! And for the most part its true! It’s easy to get ready for work when you only have one option for what you’re going to wear! But I definitely miss the days of dressing up cute outfits to go to work.

Adding style to scrubs can be hard depending on where you work. For example, I work with kids in the pediatric ER. I tend to not like wearing bracelets to work because I don’t want them to get caught on anything or get anything gross on them! Before moving to the peds ED I was a NICU nurse. We couldn’t wear any rings or bracelets (nothing from the elbow down) and I am pretty used to that. I also am careful about not wearing dangly earrings because lets be real, kids love to grab shiny things! I definitely do not want to have an earring pulled out.

But there are still ways to feel cute in scrubs, and I wanted to share my go to pieces with you all!

Earrings:

My go to earrings are my sparkle studs! I pretty much wear these every day, and I am constantly being asked about them. One of the reasons I love them is that they look incredibly glam but are super affordable at $19.99. I can wear gorgeous looking studs and not worry about what losing one (luckily I never have). I’m excited that I get to give a pair of silver sparkle studs away to anyone who shops my link from now until I hit my first sales milestone!

Necklace:

My favorite necklace that I hardly ever take off is my celestial choker. It is the perfect layering necklace, goes with literally everything, and isn’t super tempting for kids to grab! It also doesn’t get in the way/get tangled up with my stethoscope. It comes in silver and gold!

You can shop the necklace and sparkle studs through my link to be entered to win a pair of sparkle studs on me! https://www.stelladot.com/sites/miriamc

Hair clips:

It’s so funny to me how certain styles are coming back, whether its jean jackets or cute hair clips. @Michelebell21 always wears the cutest hair clips and she posted these ones on amazon. They are really sturdy, help keep my hair out of the way, and add something cute and stylish to my look. Plus they are 8$ on amazon!

As far as my actual scrubs go, I wear Figs scrubs. They are definitely more pricey than a lot of scrubs out there, but I find them to be great quality and much more flattering than a lot of other scrubs options.

I would love to hear how you style your scrubs/what brand of scrubs are your go to!

First full week on the meal plan!

I’ll admit, this week was hard. I started off really strong but then had some slips ups do to being hungry at work and being faced with about a million temptations. But I’m back on track and feeling better about it today.

Weighing my food out is definitely new to me, but its a really easy way to work on portion control. I’ve included a picture of one of my dinners and its actually a ton of food! 250g of vegetables really fills you up!

I lost about a pound in my first week on the meal plan, and my hope is that with no cheating this week, I can lose at least 2 more. I’m only 6 pounds away from my first goal, and it would be amazing to hit that number!

This week I plan on sticking to the meal plan 100%, and really hitting the gym hard. I am definitely excited to see where this goes!

Meal plan update

3 days of counting macros and I am already down 3 pounds (which I realize is probably mostly water weight). Day one I felt hungry ALL of the time. I think that was mostly mental to be honest. I am getting significantly more calories now than I was when I was on the nutrisystem plan. In the last two days I have actually found that I haven’t been able to finish my meals. I think by the end of next week I will definitely have adjusted to the plan. That being said, I work tomorrow and the next day and I’m a little nervous about that. It’s so hard to avoid all of the snacks/temptations that you deal with at the nursing station! But I will bring my own snacks and food and focus on my goals.

My goals for my first full week on the meal plan are:

Lose 5 pounds (so two more to go)
Drink 2L of water a day (I’ve yet to reach that goal)
Go to the gym 4x this week (minimum)

Let me know what you are doing meal plan/nutrition wise! I would love to hear your input!

Friday Favorites!

This week I definitely have found some products/favorites that really stood out!

Makeup wise I have been loving keeping it simple. That being said, its nice when you can find easy products that you can throw on and make you feel more put together. I have been loving taking a cream eyeshadow and blending it out. I have been using either Supergoops cream shadow in Sunset or Charlotte Tilbury’s Marie Antoinette.

For some reason my lips have been so incredibly dry, which is a weird problem to have in the summer. I have been using the new Laneige lip glowy balm in Pear. It is a clear balm but feels nice and moisturizing. I love their lip sleeping mask, but I hate using it unless I am at home because you have to dip your finger into it. So this balm is perfect for on the go.

Style wise I have been loving my crush it backpack by Stella and Dot as well as my botanical pendant necklace. My backpack has been going with me everywhere and is perfect for the gym/travel. It has a compartment that fits a pair of sneakers, and straps on the bottom that hold a yoga mat. The botanical necklace has been perfect for wearing with maxi dresses.

If you feel like shopping either item, check out my Stella and Dot link: https://www.stelladot.com/ts/qr29s

Lastly, this week I decided to get a second cat. My cat Francie would get lonely when I went to work, so I added little baby Rugen to the family. He’s an adorable black polydactyl kitten. It was a rough couple of days in the beginning, but Francie is getting used to him and I think they will be bonded eventually. They even (briefly) snuggled this morning!

So those are my weekly favorites 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

My Gym Essentials

Over the last two months or so I have completely fallen in love with lifting weights at the gym. I used to think a good workout had to include cardio, so I dreaded going. To be honest I am sure that I need to be doing more cardio, but for now I am enjoying loving the gym. Since I go to the gym 4-6 days a week now, I have discovered some essentials for my gym bag and I thought I would share them!

My current gym bag is my Stella and Dot crush it backpack. I’m obsessed with this bag! I love that it has a bottom compartment that can fit shoes. There are also straps for a yoga mat on the bottom. I honestly don’t think I’ll travel with another bag. It is easy to clean and fits a ton of stuff. It would make a perfect carry on bag too. If you are looking for a great gym/travel bag, check it out! I currently sell for Stella and Dot and I absolutely love the brand! https://www.stelladot.com/ts/qr29s

Recently I have discovered the brand Gymshark. I love their clothes! For the longest time I would worry that my leggings might be see through, and I’ve finally found a reliable brand that sells high quality gym clothes. Although I believe Gymshark is based out of the UK, shipping is fast and the quality has been great so far. If you are unsure of your size, the website provides measurements.

Preworkout: Currently I am using AlaniNu preworkout. It is the first one I have ever used, and it definitely gives me a boost. But be warned you definitely may get the preworkout “itch” with it.

Lastly, I always carry a resistance band and my headphones. As far as the resistance band goes, you can really grab any brand. But it is a great tool for the gym and for workouts at home. For headphones I am currently using airpods which I love. I was surprised by how well they stay in my ears, and the sound is great. I love having wireless headphones at the gym, and my last pair was really bothersome and always got in the way.

I would love to hear what your go to gym bag/gym essentials are!

New Meal Plan!

After talking with a close friend of mine as well as my trainer, I have decided to go on a strict meal plan. It was made for me by a food scientist. I’m pretty nervous about it, but I am ready for a change! After two months of working out 3-4 days a week, I haven’t seen the changes that I would expect. What it comes down to is nutrition. I have a string of great days, and then inevitably fall off the wagon. The new meal plan will be based on my current macros, and everything is split into calories/carbs/fats/proteins.

I’ve never truly followed a macro based food plan before. I’m hoping that it will be a good way for me to have a better relationship with food, and really understand what I am eating. I will be weighing all of my food out, so my (very neglected) food scale and I will be best friends. I’m also hoping it will get me to my goal of losing 15 pounds.

I would love to hear what meal plans have worked for you! Do you count macros or go by calories? Follow the 80/20 rule? Let me know in the comments!

Why I Decided to Try Stella and Dot

As I start this journey of trying out being a stylist for Stella and Dot, there are probably going to be a few “whys”? The simplest answer to that is: for fun! I’ve been watching one of my sorority sisters, Michelle, sell Stella and Dot for a while now, and it has always seemed like she genuinely enjoys it. There have been so many times recently when I get asked “so what do you do for fun?” or “what do you do when you aren’t at work?” And every time I kindof pause and go….hmmmm. I see friends and family. I go to the gym a lot. But I don’t truly have many fun hobbies.

I am really excited, and hoping that this is something that bring a lot of joy, and connects me with new friends. So far, it feels like this is a hobby that will do just that! The community of women who are stylists for Stella and Dot have been incredibly welcoming!

I will be using this blog to post about all things style, beauty, and lifestyle. I also plan on blogging about my fitness journey!

Lastly, I am excited to share my first giveaway opportunity! When I reach my first sales goal, I get to give away a pair of Sparkle Studs! I personal wear mine every single day! I love them! They are so comfortable and go with everything! Anyone who shops the link below will be automatically entered to win!

Link: https://www.stelladot.com/sites/miriamc

xox

Miriam

Current makeup favorites!

I feel like makeup can be such a seasonal thing! When the hotter months roll around, I am definitely a “less is more” kinda gal. Don’t get me wrong: I love feeling glam. But I definitely want my makeup to feel nice and lightweight when its hot and humid out. And I want it to last! Over the last few weeks I have perfected my every day makeup routine and have found products that are perfect for not only the summer season, but also for wearing to work as a nurse!

For face I have been keeping it so simple! @Michelebell21 on instagram has been recommending Cicapair cream (by Dr.Jart) for years and I finally decided to pick some up. Let me tell you, it is so worth it! I have completely stopped wearing foundation. This is a green cream that blends into the skin and helps completely even out your skin tone. It also has SPF 30, so its perfect for wearing under foundation or wearing alone. I personally just conceal under my eyes/spot conceal if needed, and wear the cicapair alone. For concealer I have been obsessed with Fenty Beauty concealer. It is perfect for under the eyes and spot concealing on the face. For days that I feel like I need a little bit more coverage, I add some Bareminerals Bare Pro powder. It gives great coverage and doesn’t break me out. For blush I have been loving a natural blush look and have been using the Nars multiple in Maui. It blends so easily and I think it would look great on a lot of skin tones. I think cream blushes are great for summer time! And of course in the summer, you can’t go without that sun kissed bronzed glow! I have been loving the Fenty beauty Sun Stalk’r bronzer in I$land Ting. I love that Fenty beauty makes products for people of all skin tones! If you’ve ever struggled to find a product that works for your skin tone, be it fair, deep, or somewhere in between, I suggest checking Fenty out! They have blushes, bronzers, foundations, concealers, etc., and they have such a wide range of shades and products! And to finish off my look I spray a couple sprays of my tried and true Urban Decay All Nighter finishing spray.

For eyes I have been keeping it super simple! Mascara, liner, and either cream eyeshadow or this trio from Kaja. My current favorite mascara is the Monsieur Big mascara from Lancome. For liner I love the Fenty flyliner. My cream eyeshadow of choice is from Supergoop! It is a gorgeous bronze color and I love that it has SPF in it. I’m pretty sure I’ve never even thought to apply SPF to my eyelids, but it makes so much sense as that is such a delicate skin area! The Kaja trio is called “Chocolate Dahlia” and has 1 shimmer shadow and 2 mattes. It makes for a perfect eyeshadow look, and works well on top of the cream base as well!

For lips I have been keeping it super simple lately! Gone are the days of uncomfortable matte lipsticks! I have been absolutely loving Dior LipGlow! I have the shade 006 Berry. It gives you the most natural lip color, while feeling like your’e wearing a balm. I usually do one or two swipes and then pat it into my lips for a natural look. I let my mom try it and she immediately picked one up for herself!

So those are my current makeup favs! Perfect for a 10 minutes or less makeup look that makes me feel put together for work or for going out! I’d love to know what your go to make up products are for work/the summer! Comment down below and let me know!

x0x

Mir