Medicine & Manicures

February 1, 2016

Valentine’s Day Look: Pink Feather Clutch

First of all, happy February!! We have entered the shortest month of the year BUT we do get to celebrate a leap year this time around so that’s always fun. Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and if you’re like me, you may be scrambling for something to wear on your date night.

peplum top // Express leather leggings // feather clutch (under $30!) // similar necklace

Halogen studded heels // Kate Spade sunnies // Lips: MAC in “Pink Nouveau”

No matter the holiday, I like to sport the festive colors whenever I can. Pink and red together? Why not! Holidays make it extra fun to dress up and you can get away with combinations that would be a little too much any other time of year.

I just bought a fun new dress for my bridal shower so I thought I’d give my credit card a break and shop from my own closet for my Valentine’s Day outfit. I paired this long sleeve peplum top with my leather leggings and added some blush accessories because… what girl doesn’t love pink?? When I saw this pink feather clutch, it had to be mine. First of all, it’s on sale for $28. No brainer. Second, it’s fluffy, girly, and feminine and just makes me happy when I carry it. An accessory that makes a statement is an easy way to amp up your outfit without going overboard.

Please notice the conversation heart that says “on fleek.” Love it!

You may have also noticed a different look around here. I’ve freshened up the blog design- nothing too crazy but some of my favorite additions are the recent posts widget at the top of my homepage and the static menu bar (with some updated info & tabs). Feel free to look around and I hope y’all have a great Monday!

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January 29, 2016

Pork Chop Recipe (So Easy, Even I Can Do It)

Friday… already?!? I swear, this week has flown by way too quickly. Earlier this week, I drove down to Atlanta to visit my friend Lindsay for some much needed girl time. She went to culinary school and used to work for Southern Living so she can whip up something mean in the kitchen. I’m so thankful for my friends that can cook!

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January 27, 2016

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: For Him or Her

Hi, friends!! Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and many of you might be scrambling on what to get your special someone. Some people aren’t huge fans of V-day and may think it’s a “Hallmark holiday” but to me, I love any reason to celebrate with my guy. Bring on the red and pink!

Ryan and I usually exchange gifts but with the wedding plus a ton of other expenses coming up this year, we’re just treating ourselves to a nice dinner. Whether you decide to take a trip, cook each other dinner, or simply write a sweet note in a card, there are plenty of ways to celebrate this holiday and make each other feel special. Today, I’ve rounded up a little gift guide with some fun ideas for him (or yourself!).

WALL ART

I don’t know much about fine art, but I do know that pretty artwork on the walls can definitely make a house feel more like a home. And you don’t have to spend a ton for art- Minted has a great selection of prints and frames to add a pop of color to those walls.

WATER BOTTLE

If you want something to keep your drink extra cool, opt for a fancy water container. Swell water bottles for the girls, Yeti tumblers for the guys.

COUPLES COOKBOOK

If you love to cook or just want to sharpen your cooking skills, a couples cookbook would make a great gift. Cooking together can be such a simple and easy date night.

BLUETOOTH SPEAKER

If you don’t already have one, you can never go wrong with a Bose Bluetooth speaker. Perfect for dance parties in the bathroom when you’re getting ready (guilty) or summer days at the beach. Love the fun red color!

FOR THE KITCHEN

Add to your kitchen collection with a fun pair of Kate Spade wine glasses or some cute kitchen towels.

PLUSH ROBE

A robe is something we don’t always think to buy ourselves, but a gift that anyone would appreciate. I love this soft pink one for the girls and this classic terry version for the guys. Adding a monogram is always a great way to add that personal touch!

PHONE CASE

Phone cases… we all need ’em! I’m a bit of a hoarder and loved getting the chance to create my very own at CaseApp. I’m really into marble right now –it looks so cute with the rose gold– but you can choose from a ton of designs or even create your own with a fun logo or photo!

For anyone that want’s a Valentine’s day freebie, I’m partnering with CaseApp to give away one phone case to a lucky reader! Gift it to your guy or keep it for yourself- all you have to do is hop over to my Instagram to enter. You can also use code MEDSMANICURES20 to get 20% off any items in the shop through next Wednesday.

What are some of the best Valentine’s Day presents that you’ve ever gifted or received? I’d love to hear!

January 25, 2016

Grey Snow Day

Topshop sweater (marled version) // DL1961 jeans // Hunter boots

pom pom hat, sold-out (similar) // crystal necklace (similar) // Lips: Bite Beauty in “Palomino“

Rebecca Minkoff bag // Daniel Wellington watch // J.Crew wool coat similar

So in case you missed it, there was a little winter storm that hit the east coast this weekend. Charlotte just got a few inches of snow (mostly ice) but as you know in the south, everything shuts down. This can be a good and a bad thing. Good if you don’t have to go to work and get to spend the day watching movies. Bad if you get cabin fever and EVERYTHING is closed.

We decided to venture out Saturday as a few businesses were starting to open up again and naturally, we had to squeeze in a few photos. The snow is pretty but BRRRRR!! It was like 30 degrees out and a little windy so mine & Ryan’s hands were absolutely freezing. Needless to say, I’m a southern girl through and through and would never make it up north.

We did have the Hornets game to look forward to on Saturday so I decided to get out of my PJs and wear this Topshop layered sweater. I’ll be honest- I’ve never been good at layering tops. Most of my sweaters are pretty fitted and button-down shirts can add a lot of bunching… it just doesn’t really work for me. What I DO love is the look of layers, without the work. These types of sweaters have been everywhere this season and are such an easy thing to throw on with leggings or skinny jeans. And thank goodness I have finally… FINALLY joined the Hunter boots bandwagon. They were a Christmas gift from Ryan’s parents and it was nice to finally go out in the snow without worrying about my shoes or pants. A little late to the party but hey, I love ’em!

On another note… THE PANTHERS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!! They absolutely dominated the Cardinals last night in the NFC Championship and it’s about time they win the whole thing at Super Bowl 50. Cannot wait!!

As for me, I’m hoping I can start work next week but until then I have some more time off. Can’t complain too much, right?! This morning I’m off to Atlanta to visit one of my besties, Lindsay, for some much needed girl time. Hope y’all have a fabulous Monday & stay warm!

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January 20, 2016

Wedding Wednesday: The Registry

I love to shop. Clothes, jewelry, shoes. Lately I’ve been really into shoes.
However, when it comes to kitchen supplies… not so much.

The wedding registry is one of the bigger tasks of wedding planning. You get to search home decor stores high and low for all kinds of goodies and gadgets to fill your home as a married couple. You get to pick out fun things like plates, pots & pans, glasses, towels, sheets, and all that fun stuff. I was super excited to register until I realized how overwhelming it was.
Some people may have too many things on their registry, but we’re struggling with the opposite. We don’t want to throw just any random thing on there. We want to have items that we’ll truly use on a regular basis. Another thing that can be difficult is when you already live with your fiancé before you get married. We already have a lot of the staples like a blender, knife set, nice wine glasses, and a crockpot which we rarely use.
As y’all know, I’m not huge on cooking so I struggled with a lot of the kitchen items. Luckily, we have Ryan’s mom to help us along the way. Some things were more fun to pick out than others- my favorite might be our flatware. I like the pretty, shiny things! I thought I’d share some of the top items on our registry and no, a Kitchen-Aid mixer is not on there because let’s be honest… I don’t bake! Maybe one day.

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January 18, 2016

“C” is for Celebration

Hi, friends!! I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend (how about them Panthers?!?). As far as Mondays go, this one’s not so bad. In case you missed my Instagram post or my snaps on Friday (khendley), I’m ~~happy~~ thrilled to report that…

I PASSED MY BOARDS!!!

Yayyy!! You can imagine my relief… now I can finally B.R.E.A.T.H.E! I have been a stressed out mess this past week which honeslty felt like the longest week of my life. The small group of my class that took the exam in late December got their results after only 4 days so after knowing that bit of info, I was checking my email like a crazy person. The suspense!! I waited 8 days for my results and when I got that email – gulp – I felt my stomach drop. That is, until I saw this!

AHHHH!!!!!!

Just to give you a little background info, when you graduate from PA school you officially become a physician assistant. However, you cannot work until you pass the boards. That’s where the “C” in PA-C comes in. It stands for certified, meaning that you have passed the national certification exam. Three letters that I am so thrilled to write after my name.

I have to tell you, the PANCE was THE hardest test I’ve ever taken. Yes, I knew it would be hard but yikes! I was definitely worried that I didn’t pass. I did well in school and got good scores on my practice tests but when I actually got in the test center, I freaked out a little bit. I couldn’t help but think, “If I fail this thing, I can’t work for 3 months.” Never have I had so much riding on one test, one 5-hour long, 300-question test. But that’s just how it goes with this kind of profession.

Anyways… Moving on! All I can say is I passed and I’m glad it’s over. I won’t have to do this again until 10 years from now when I recertify. Last week that was ALL I thought about but now I can officially move on to this next chapter of my life. Of course Ryan & I had to celebrate- he made reservations at Aria, one of my favorite Italian restaurants and we had some delicious food along with live music. It was perfect!

Not only did I find out my test results on Friday, but also got a job offer in dermatology!! You may remember that this was my favorite rotation in school and has been my #1 choice of field to get into. I haven’t officially signed my contract yet but we’re in the negotiation stage. I just can’t believe how things are all coming together. All the studying, hard work, stress, anxiety, and prayers have finally payed off. Now, all I have to do is wait for my medical license to come in and I can finally start working (hopefully in the beginning of February). Sorry this post is super long BUT I just wanted to say that I have loved sharing my PA school experiences with you guys and thanks for always being there to support and encourage me. Cheers!!

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