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Medicine Residency

How to Pass a Test in 10 Ways

Posted on November 28, 2017

Test taking is one of those things that you are either really good at, or have to try really really hard to be good at. I personally never had a problem with exams until I started taking standardized tests. Studying for the SAT, MCAT, and Medical Licensing Exams have all been associated with such negative emotions, that I have tried to block them out from my memory completely. That being said, over the years I have developed a system that works for me, and using that system I have passed all of the required tests to get to where I am today, including the Internal Medicine Board Exam!

If you are like me and get super stressed out over tests, this article is for you. And if you are one of those people who aces every test without trying, I envy you more than you know. These are my general steps to preparing for any big exam, and at the end I will include a paragraph about studying specifically for ABIM. So without further ado, here’s how to pass a test in 10 ways.

1. Make a Schedule 

When you start preparing to study, it’s best if you have a set schedule. Know how many pages you need to read each day to get through a specific book, or how many questions you need to do to get through a specific Q bank. Doing this will keep you on track and let you know if you are falling behind schedule. I like to have a list of things to do each day so that I can check them off when they get done- this makes me feel like I accomplished what I needed to. You can also add a few things to the end of your schedule for that week, so if you have extra time you can get those out of the way as well.

2. Be Realistic 

Going back to #1, while it’s important to have a plan, it’s also important to set goals that are achievable. Don’t make your schedule so jam packed that you end up not completing your tasks for that day; this will stress. you. out. To help decide what is realistic and what isn’t, spend one full day studying before you make your entire study schedule so that you can gauge how long it takes to complete each task. By doing this, you will have a better idea about how many things you can give yourself to do, depending on how much time you have to study that day.

3. Don’t Rush Yourself  

If you end up giving yourself too many tasks for one day and you realize that you aren’t going to get through them all, don’t rush yourself. If you try to cram things in anyway, you won’t be putting as much effort into actually learning the material, and chances are you wont remember the content as well. What I do in these situations is take the tasks I know I won’t get to, and tack them onto days where I might be able to shorten my lunch break, or add an extra study hour on to one day. This will give you some extra time to spend on those topics without speeding through them completely.

4. Stick to a Few Methods 

When I first started studying for standardized tests, I thought more was better. More books, more question banks, etc. The more I could read the more knowledge would be stuck in my head, right? Wrong. What ended up happening was I would half-ass studying most of the material without taking the time to actually learn it. Since then, I discovered that the best way to study was to stick to one of each method; One text book, one Q bank, and one supplemental “written” notebook. By doing this you eliminate the stress of multiple sources giving you different information (which happens pretty frequently) and you can focus on getting through the material multiple times (instead of reading multiple sources only once).

5. Do What Works For You

By now, you should have a general idea of how you like to study. For me, flashcards never really helped, but answering questions, reading the explanations of why I got it right (or wrong), and taking my own notes, does. If you know that studying on your own is better, and you are less productive in a group setting, don’t waste your time trying out something new. For me, I like studying alone for the most part, but reviewing the material with someone else for a few hours at the end of the day. I feel that this reinforces what I read earlier and helps it stick better, but everyone is different, so at this point in the game stick to what you know works best for you.

6. Take a Review Course 

I did this for the MCAT, but not for any of the Steps, so when someone recommended it to me for my IM Board Exam I was a little skeptical. I can now confidently say it was one of the best decisions I made. Having someone (who is highly experienced and knowledgeable in that area) tell you what they think is important for you to know for an exam is definitely helpful. By doing this, I was able to focus on the “high yield” material, and weed out some other topics that were less important for the exam. Ask around for opinions on different review courses you can take, and make sure the one you sign up for is legit. I used Awesome Review for my IM Boards and would highly recommend it to future test takers.

7. Pick a Good Study Spot 

Location, location, location. Probably one of the most important things to me when it comes to studying, is where I am studying. My #1 goal is finding places that are both conductive to studying and also offer sustenance, because my life typically revolves around when my next meal will be. Other things that I take into account when picking a good study spot are: 1. Whether or not there is WiFi available, 2. Do they serve good coffee? 3. Is there enough space to sit and spread out my study materials? 4. Are there enough outlets in case I need to plug in my laptop, and my cell phone, and my headphones… (you get it), and lastly, 5. What is the ambiance like- my go to is usually well lit with some noise, but not enough to be distracting.

8. Give Yourself Breaks 

No one can study for hours straight and still feel sane by the end of the day without taking breaks; and I don’t mean just to eat and to sleep. When making your schedule, make sure to include time slots for breaks so that you can refresh your mind. You can either put breaks in at specific times (for ex: 30 minutes at 11 am), or after you complete a specific task (like little rewards). My breaks usually consist of taking a walk to get more coffee, sitting outside and enjoying some fresh air, or watching endless videos of animals on Instagram. Whatever you do, make sure to set a timer so you know when your break is up and it’s time to get back to grind mode.

9. Do Things to Relieve Stress 

Aside from adding short breaks into your schedule, there are other things you can do to relieve stress. My main one is running. When I’ve had a long day of studying, I throw on some work out clothes, my favorite running shoes, the right playlist, and just run. Whatever it is you’re doing, whether its working out, catching up on some T.V., or preparing a nice healthy dinner for yourself (just some of my other favorite stress relievers), try to be focused only on that, and not to think about anything you learned that day. I promise when you’re done you will feel so much better.

10. Just Some Extra Tips

There are a few other things I have learned over the years which have helped me stay in the zone while studying. If you are planning on studying somewhere that doesn’t serve food, pack your own lunch. This will eliminate time wasted wondering where you have to go if you get hungry (or hangry), or time wasted packing up your study area to relocate somewhere else. Next, come prepared with whatever tools you like to study with. For me, this includes colored pens, highlighters, white out (since I’m OCD), a notebook, and chargers. Make sure you have these things with you before you leave the house so you are not stranded without them all day.

ABIM prep: When I realized it was time to buckle down and start seriously preparing for the ABIM (American Board of Internal Medicine) I did all of the steps above. I scouted out good study spots, made my schedule in advance, and signed up for a review course that was recommended to me. I read through all of the MKSAP books from January through June, and finished just before my review course. Afterwards, I had another two months to go over the review course material twice, and do as many questions as I possibly could. I only looked at the MKSAP books again when I needed a supplemental material to test questions or my review course notes. Fast forward to now, two months later, and I found out I passed. No more exams for 10 years!

As I stated earlier, everyone is different and my methods might not work as well for you, but overall these 10 steps can pretty much apply to anyone taking any big exam. I hope this article helped you, and if you have questions or need some other advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to me (as some of you already have).

Good luck and good studying!

XoXo
-Erica

 

Health and Wellness

The Art[naturals] of Self Love

Posted on November 21, 2017

To me, how well you care for yourself should reflect how well you will care for others. As a physician, it’s important for me to eat well, exercise, and be healthy on a daily basis, not only for myself but for my patients. When you feel like you can conquer the world, you totally will. That brings me to the next thing; aside from good skin care, I place a fairly large emphasis on my hair care routine. There are so many tips I could give you guys that I have learned over the years about what to do for longer stronger hair (not to mention it totally helps that my mom is a hair stylist), but I’ll start with the basics.

I wanted to share the new shampoo and conditioner duo I have been using with you all because I believe that a good wash regimen really is the basis to healthy locks. I think what you put on your body is equally as important as what you put in your body (check out my natural deodorant post for more info on that topic as well).

With that said, finding good, natural, hair care products isn’t always easy. The Artnaturals Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner set originally caught my eye because of the all natural ingredients. Aside from that, it is paraben free and sulfate free (both have shown to be damaging to hair, especially colored hair), and as an added bonus, it’s produced in Morocco (where my Grandmother is from!).

Once I actually tried the products, I really fell in love. The shampoo is lightweight and smells like heaven in a bottle (it’s hard to put my finger on the exact scent but really, it smells like cleanliness, and heaven). I followed the instructions and left it on for a few minutes and only had to do one wash and rinse for my hair to feel like it was completely clean. The conditioner smells like a refreshing piña colada, with hints of vanilla and coconut, and is a nice lightweight formula.

Once I rinsed it out my hair felt ridiculously soft. I will say I was impressed with the way my hair dried on its own, and even better when blow dried. There was no greasy oily residue that some conditioners leave over, and yet my hair still felt silky smooth. I have used the shampoo and conditioner numerous times now and I am impressed with the outcome every time.

Over the past few weeks I have gotten several direct messages about what hair products I use, and how I get my hair to grow as long as it is, so I figured I would start by sharing the basics. I am working on a separate blog post where I will discuss some other tips and tricks about hair care (and hair growth secrets), but for now I highly recommend trying this stuff out. They have some other products on their website (an Argan Leave in Conditioner and Argan Thermal Shield) that I will be purchasing to add to my regimen, so I’ll keep you posted on those as well!

XoXo
-Erica

Food Recipes

Smokin’ Hot (and Delicious)

Posted on November 1, 2017

I don’t know how many of you are loving this new Instagram poll feature, but I totally am. The first time I tried it out was to ask you all if you wanted the recipe for my new favorite pasta dish, and most of you said yes (to the other 8% who said no, explain yourselves). So this recipe was crafted in an attempt to recreate a meal my boyfriend and I had on our recent trip to Greece (if you want to read all about that, check it out here).

We were at Katerina’s Restaurant and Cocktail Bar in Mykonos and asked the waitress what she recommended from the menu. She told us that every time someone orders the Farfalle pasta, the smells are so great that she has a difficult time bringing it to the table without eating it herself. We were sold, and that was also probably one of the best decisions we made on our trip (aside from reserving a balcony seat at Katerina’s, months in advance, for the incredible sunset view).

The Farfalle pasta dish came with smoked salmon, sun-dried tomatoes, and a creamy smokey sauce that was such an incredible combination of flavors. After several weeks home from Greece, and a few other pasta dinners later, I realized that what I was really craving was that farfalle dish. I went back to the menu online to get some ideas, but they don’t give out any of their secrets (I don’t blame them).

I googled “smoked salmon sun-dried tomato pasta” and found several recipes, but none of them really sounded exactly like what I was looking for. I decided to take a few tips from the recipes I found, and use some of my “Food Network” acquired cooking skills to try and come up with a recipe myself.

After two separate attempts, I got the exact flavor I was looking for. This dish has the perfect amount of smokiness, creaminess, and deliciousness, and I even altered the recipe to make it as healthy as possible (so I can make it once a week without feeling too guilty about it). You should be able to find most of the items at your local grocery store, but I went to Fresh Market for the smoked salmon because theirs is hands down the freshest and best tasting (to those of you in the Mid-West, I know Whole Foods has a similar, packaged version of the wild [or farm raised] smoked salmon called “Whole Catch” which you can use as well).


When making the recipe, I stuck with the Farfalle type of pasta, aka the one that looks like little bow ties. I did this A. to keep the trend going of the dish we had in Greece, B. I find that it holds onto the flavor pretty well (you can also use Fusilli to get the same results), and C. It’s pretty. Obviously I bought organic, whole wheat pasta (again, to make myself feel better) and I used the general rule of thumb of 3 cups of uncooked pasta per serving (for two people), but you can use a little more if you want some leftovers. Cook the pasta according to it’s package instructions, and while the pasta is cooking you can tackle the rest of the steps.


First, I cut up the sun dried tomatoes into small little pieces and minced the garlic. I bought sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil to avoid using any extra oil in the recipe. I added the sun-dried tomatoes and the minced garlic to a deep-ish skillet over low-medium heat and let them saute together for about 1-2 minutes. Next I added all the liquids; the cream, broth, and white wine, and raised the temp to bring it to a boil. Once boiling, I reduced it to medium again and let it simmer for 4-5 minutes. If the sauce doesn’t thicken to your liking, add 1/2 tsp of corn starch (which I did) to get the right consistency.


Now you can add in your smoked salmon, which I just cut into small chunks. Heat the salmon through (you will see it change from dark to light pink) and continue to stir so the flavors get incorporated into the sauce. By now your pasta should be done, so drain it, and add it to your sauce-salmon mixture. Top it off with the lemon juice, grated cheese, dill, and any other seasonings (I just added a touch of pepper) and mix well. Let it sit for 4-5 minutes to heat evenly (stirring occasionally), and serve. I made some steamed asparagus quickly during those last few minutes and my dish was complete!


Side notes: 1. Because the salmon is salty to begin with, make sure the broth you purchase is no sodium (or very low sodium) to avoid extra saltiness, and don’t add salt until you taste the dish prior to serving. 2. If you can’t find Smoked Gouda, you can use Parmesan (that’s what the other recipes used, but it didn’t give me the rich smokey flavor I was looking for). 3. Top off your dish with some dill to make it look extra fancy.

I hope you guys enjoy! Let me know what you think in the comments below!

XoXo

-Erica

Print
Smoked Salmon and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 

This is the recipe for the BEST pasta dish I have ever had, and I am now sharing with you all. The ingredients listed are for two servings (two people), but you can halve it for 1 or multiply it for bigger dinner parties (orrr to keep for leftovers). Enjoy!

Servings: 1 2
Ingredients
  • 3 cups Uncooked Farfalle Pasta Whole Wheat
  • 2 cloves Garlic - Minced
  • 10 pieces Sun-Dried Tomato in Olive Oil
  • 1/4 cup Regular Cream
  • 1/2 cup White Cooking Wine
  • 1 cup No Sodium Chicken Broth or Veggie Broth
  • 8 oz Cold Smoked Salmon
  • 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 2-4 tbsp Chopped Dill
  • 1/2 cup Grated Smoked Gouda or Grated Parmesan
  • 2 tbsp Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto *optional
  • 1 tsp Corn Starch *optional
Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.

  2. While the pasta is cooking, mince the garlic cloves and chop the sun-dried tomatoes into small pieces. Add both to a deep skillet over low-medium heat and saute together for about 1-2 minutes while stirring.

  3. Add the liquids; the cream, white wine, and chicken broth, and raise the temperature to bring it to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low-medium again and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes.

    *If the sauce doesn't thicken to your liking, you can add 1/2 tsp of corn starch (which I did) to get the right consistency. 

  4. Cut your smoked salmon into chunks, and add it to your sauce. Heat the salmon through (you will see it change from dark to light pink) and continue to stir so the flavors get incorporated into the sauce.

  5. By now your pasta should be done, so drain it, and add it to your sauce-salmon mixture. Top it off with the lemon juice, grated cheese, dill, and any other seasonings (I added a touch of pepper). Mix well. 

    *I also added a bit of sun-dried tomato pesto for some extra flavor. 

  6. Let it sit for a minute or two to heat evenly, and serve!

Recipe Notes

Side notes:

1. Because the salmon is salty to begin with, make sure the broth you purchase is no sodium (or very low sodium) to avoid any extra saltiness, and don't add salt until you taste the dish prior to serving.

2. If you can't find Smoked Gouda, you can use Parmesan (that's what some of the other recipes used, but it didn't give me the rich smokey flavor I was looking for).

3. Top off your dish with some dill to make it look extra fancy.

Health and Wellness

Breast Cancer Stinks; You Don’t Have To

Posted on October 27, 2017

As most of you have probably heard by now, there are certain ingredients in most deodorants that have been linked to breast cancer; particularly parabens and aluminum. Some studies have shown increased absorption of these substances through the axillary (armpit) skin. Why is that bad? Well, parabens have weak estrogen-like properties, which can be a concern to some because excess estrogen in the body can lead to breast cell replication. On the flip-side, the estrogen-like effects from parabens alone has not demonstrated any relationship to the development of breast cancer, and estrogen we make in our body is much stronger than those from any outside sources.

Aluminum, which is added to deodorants for its antiperspirant effects (i.e. they block the sweat glands), has been shown to cause changes in the estrogen receptors on breast cells. Though, like parabens, the absorption of aluminum through the skin is very minimal, and most of the aluminum found in our bodies is actually due to ingestion (from foods) or other sources as well. In addition, other studies have shown no difference in the amount of aluminum found in breast cancer tissue compared to normal breast tissue. So again, we can’t really confirm (or deny) the exact link between aluminum absorbed through the skin and its effects on breast cancer development.

All of this being said, there are many people out there, including myself, who would prefer to not take any chances. With breast cancer being as common as it is (1 in every 8 women will develop breast cancer at some point in there lifetime), why add any extra potential risks. So, in light of breast cancer awareness month, I decided to do a little self guided research study to find out which (of 3) natural deodorants works the best. I chose my three based on amazon reviews, recommendations from friends, and price. I wore each of them for one week (this included work, gym days, painting my bedroom, football games, etc) to see how they held up. I’m going to give you the pros and cons of each, and let you know which one I will be using from now on.

Crystal Essence:

Crystal Essence was created by Jerry Rosenblatt in 1984, when he went to France and discovered a mineral salt that worked to purify water and worked as a deodorant as well. He brought this idea to New York, where sales began at Henri Bendel. Now, with the success of his original products, the line expanded and today there are over 25 different Crystal Deodorant products. The one I decided to try was the roll on, which comes in several different scent.

I purchased “Vanilla Jasmine” because it seemed to have the most reviews, but to be honest I think it really just smells like some sort of lime concoction. I do tend to like the fact that it’s a roll on since it goes on super easy, but that also means it takes some time to dry, and my armpit area felt sticky for a few minutes afterwards. Lastly, I didn’t find that I stayed smelling fresh the whole day, especially not on days that I went to the gym (sorry to those who were working out near me). If you want to try it out, but you’re not sure which product to purchase, they do sell a trial pack to test out a few different items.

Pros:
-Comes in 4 different scents
-Super cheap ($4.75 on their website, $3 on Amazon, for 2.25 oz.)
-Quick and easy roll on formula
-No residue left on clothing

Cons:
-The scents (to me) don’t really smell like what they’re supposed to
-Needs some time to dry, sticky underarm feeling for a few minutes
-Doesn’t really last the whole day (especially not with any physical activity)
-Re-application needed for better effect

Bali Secrets Natural Deodorant:

Bali Secrets is an all natural, organic, vegan, cruelty-free deodorant line. They’re a small company from California, but the products are available on their website. I actually purchased this deodorant because of the seriously ridiculously amazing reviews on Amazon. So while it was a little bit pricier, I still decided to give it a go. I tried the Aloe Delight scent, which to me, kind of just smells like soap. I also read great reviews about Delicate Rose, and Sandalwood for men, so I got that one for my boyfriend (it kind of smells like baby powder?).

Like the other roll on, it went on smooth and easy, but did need a few minutes to dry completely. I found that it worked O.K. Definitely better than the crystal essence (which I would hope, since it’s 3 x the price), but I didn’t feel like I smelled super fresh the entire day. I think I might try another scent to give it another chance, since the reviews really are so so good.

Pros:
-Comes in 5 different scents (some for men and women)
-Quick and easy roll on formula
-No residue left on clothing

Cons:
-Like the other roll on, needs time to dry
-Expensive ($13.99 for 2.4 oz.)
-I got a mild skin reaction to it on the last day

Schmidt’s Naturals Deodorant:

Schmidt’s Naturals was started by Jamie Schmidt in Portland, Oregon in 2010, with the idea of making products that would benefit her family’s health. Via word of mouth about how great her product actually was, news spread and voila- Schmidt’s is sold practically everywhere. They are also known for their all natural ingredients, great customer service, and even a recycling program, so with the motto of “changing the way people think about deodorant,” Schmidt’s is doing just that.

When I was first told about Schmidt’s, I wasn’t sure which scent I wanted to try (there are SO many), but when my boyfriend’s mom bought one for me that issue was instantly solved. She got me the “Rose & Vanilla” scent, which is pretty true to it’s title, and while I occasionally feel like I smell like a grandmother, I’ve actually grown quite fond of the smell. The deodorant goes on somewhat easily (I usually run it back and forth about 3-4 times to make sure it’s on evenly) and I swear it works better than my regular deodorant. Side note- Schmidt’s sells body soaps as well!

Pros:
-Smells amazing and they sell multiple scents
-Literally leaves you stink-free all day
-Average price, but bigger sizes ($8.99 for 3.25 oz)
-Comes in small travel sizes as well
-They also sell a “sensitive skin” line for those with easy irritation

Cons:
-Will leave some residue on your clothes
-Thicker material, not as easy to put on

I want you guys to know that this post was in no way sponsored by any of these companies; I did it just to spread some knowledge and help you save money if you want to go the natural route without having to try several different brands like I did.

Overall I can say that I will be a loyal Schmidt customer from now on. Not only do I love the fact that I don’t smell AT ALL throughout the day, but the scent of the deodorant actually lasts as well. I reached out to Schmidt’s Naturals to let them know they won my sniff test, and they gave me a coupon code for you guys to use – NATURAL15 will give you 15% off their website. My next purchase is going to be the Schmidt’s Travel Size 5-Pack, so that I can test out some of the other scents (and I’ll be using that coupon code myself).

Let me know if you guys have tried any of these before, what your thoughts are, or if you know of any other brands that work. Good luck and good smells!!

XoXo

-Erica

Health and Wellness

In October We Wear Pink

Posted on October 5, 2017

Regina George may have had it somewhat right, but it’s not just on Wednesday’s that we wear pink these days. The entire month of October is now dedicated to wearing the color in order to help raise awareness for breast cancer, and as knowledge continues to spread, more and more people are joining the movement. So what does wearing pink really mean? It means that not only are we showing our support by what we wear, but we are also trying to spread understanding of what the color pink really stands for.

After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with an average lifetime risk of developing breast cancer at 12%. There are about 300,000 cases diagnosed each year, with about 15% of those (40,000 people) dying from the disease each year. Another way of looking at it is that 1 in 8 women will have breast cancer, and 1 woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 2 minutes. In addition, contrary to what most people believe, men can develop breast cancer as well (though it is not nearly as common). Always keep in mind that screening for breast cancer begins at 40 years old (for average risk women) with annual mammograms, and that catching breast cancer early can save your life.

While I completely support wearing pink everything to raise awareness, I believe it’s also extremely important to know what else you can do to support the cause. For starters, everyone should educate themselves in any way that they can. Take this quiz if you want to see how much you already know about breast cancer, or go straight to the source for a list of topics and explanations (more info can be found on Susan G. Komen’s website). If you are over 35 years old, you can get an idea about your own personal risk using this Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool. Once you acquire more information on the topic, you can help teach others what you know.

To help you all out, I’ve compiled a list of things you can do to help contribute; some are more time consuming, and some are simple enough to do in just a few minutes. I hope you’ll take a moment to read through them and decide which one’s you can do (aside from just wearing pink) to help me raise breast cancer awareness.

1. Make Your Own Pink Ribbon!

This one is super easy to do. With just a quick stop at your nearest Michael’s or Hobby Lobby you can pick up the items needed to make your own pink ribbon. I think this is fun because you can buy different shades of pink, or even patterned ribbon to really stand out. You can make extras and hand them out to friends, family, and coworkers to get them to help raise awareness with you!

2. Get a New Stethoscope

My motto is you can never have too many stethoscopes, and you should definitely have a pink one for October. That being said, wouldn’t you want to get one that also helps raise money for a good cause? Medelita has partnered with the American Breast Cancer Foundation to donate 5% of each pink stethoscope purchased during the month of October for breast cancer awareness. Anddd there are two different shades of pink that apply to the donation! (Mine is the “pink” one, but there is also a rose color)

3. Cook, Bake, And Eat!

Cook For The Cure is a fundraising partnership between KitchenAid and Susan G. Komen that has raised over $10.7 million in the past 16 years through purchases of pink KitchenAid products, celebrity chef auctions, and home based fundraising. Whether you need a new beautiful pink appliance for your kitchen (trust me, the Artisan Stand Mixer is a life saver), or just want to host a cooking party at your own home, KitchenAid is here to help you raise awareness. They also have this really cool program called pass the plate, where you make a meal and serve it on your special plate and then pass it on to someone, who then passes it on to someone else. You can also register the plate to track where it’s been- SO fun!

4. Join a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk or Run

Now that we’re done cooking and eating, maybe we should do some physical activity. The great thing about joining breast cancer awareness walks/runs is that you get to exercise and also meet so many awesome people doing it. If you’re not an avid runner, don’t sweat it (see what I did there), plenty of people prefer to walk instead. There are multiple options depending on where you live, with the most widely known one being the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life campaign. It’s super easy to find an event (or two) near you and sign up to help out.

5. Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

I have always loved buying new sneakers because nothing makes me feel more motivated than a new pair of running shoes (aside from running off the pumpkin pie I ate last night, #ilovefall). Not to mention you can totally show them off at one of the breast cancer awareness walks/runs mentioned above (see #4). There are several companies that have teamed up to help raise breast cancer awareness such as New Balance’s “Lace Up for the Cure,” Sketcher’s “Our Walk Together,” and Nike’s Air Max breast Cancer Awareness sneakers (which are even on sale, but selling out quickly!)

6. Training Gear

If you want some other exercise equipment aside from just new shoes, there are plenty of options here as well, all that help support AND raise awareness for breast cancer. Under Armour has a campaign called “Power in Pink” with multiple different items for both men and women. If you’re into yoga, Maduka has designed project:OM in which 10% of all yoga gear purchases go to the Susen G. Komen foundation. And if you’re into football and want some pink items to help root for your team, NFL shop has quite a selection (the NFL themselves even auction off items worn by athletes in there Crucial Catch campaign to raise money for the American Cancer Society). Lastly, Ford donates 100% of net proceeds from their Warriors Wear Pink products to your charity of choice (and no, you don’t have to buy an actual car).

7. Donate

If you don’t have time to join an event or do some of the other activities but just want to help with a donation, you can join the hundreds of other companies that have done so. You can go directly to the American Cancer Society website, the American Breast Cancer Foundation website, the Ntional Breast Cancer Foundation website, the Susan G. Komen website, orrr the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. All are legitimate and not scams, and your money will definitely be used in a good way. If you want more information just click on the links to see what they’re all about.

8. Fundraise for the Cause

If you want to donate but also want to get others to help join you, fundraising is your best option, and there are plenty of ways in which you can do so (check these out too). A lot of the fundraisers available include walks/runs (like I discussed before), golfing events, art galas, sporting events, etc., but you can also create your own fundraiser if you want! If none of these sound super appealing to you, you can buy items in bulk from this wholesale site and sell them to raise money that way instead.

9. Get involved Yourself

There are research projects and clinical trials all over the world to find out more about breast cancer and how we can stop it. If you know someone with breast cancer who wants to enroll in a clinical trial, there are plenty around. You can also learn more about breast cancer research here, or you can attend events to hear what the experts have to say in person. After all, knowledge is power, right?

10. Social Media

Everyone knows that what goes on social media these days spreads like wild fire. That being said, use it to your advantage to spread the word about wearing pink and the multiple ways we can all support breast cancer awareness. I know my personal goal for the month of October is to post as many things as I can (without driving everyone crazy) about breast cancer and what we can be doing to help out. Use your voice to let others know what they can be doing too!

Now that I’ve given you multiple different ways you can help RAISE AWARENESS (are you sick of hearing me say that yet?), please please help participate in any way that you can. It is up to us to put an end to this terrible disease. I love you all, now lets kick some breast cancer butt!

XoXo

-Erica

 

 

 

Places I've Been Travel

It’s All Greek to Me

Posted on September 29, 2017

Anyone who knows me well, knows that Greece has been my dream destination since I was about 10 years old, so going the day after I took one of the hardest exams of my life was literally perfect timing (anything to get my mind off waiting for test results for three months). To say that Greece met my expectations is an understatement. The food, the culture, and the scenery were absolutely breathtaking, and it’s full magnificence is hard to put into words, but I’m going to try.

For our first trip to Greece, we (my boyfriend and I) decided to do each of the three main destinations I dreamed of going to: Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. I am going to tell you what we did on a day-by-day basis so I can share my opinions with you based on the things we experienced. That being said, I’ll let you know what I think you should definitely do, and what I think you could skip (or maybe replace with something else). I’m even going to add my personal itinerary for you guys to use as a template if you’d like as well. So without further ado… I give you, GREECE (from my perspective).

Day 1:

We took an overnight flight out of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and landed in Athens at 6 pm on our first day, so we didn’t really do much. We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel near Athens City Center because of it’s central location, but if you want a more authentic Athens experience, I would recommend staying at a hotel near Plaka (the most historic neighborhood in Athens). After checking into our hotel, we walked to the restaurant we chose for our first dinner, Oroscopo. The restaurant was really adorable, with a beautiful outdoor seating area and excellent food. On top of that, the owner personally introduced himself before we sat down, and sent several free items to our table as well (soup, limoncello shots, and dessert) – it doesn’t get much better than that.

Day 2:

This was our first full day in Athens, so we decided to do the touristy stuff and did a 5 hour walking tour.  I definitely recommend doing some sort of guided tour around Athens because you will see more AND learn more that way. The company we used has multiple options if you want to see different sites or only want the tour for a certain amount of time.

On our tour we saw the Parliament Building and the changing of the guards, The National Gardens, The Temple of Zeus, The Acropolis (with The Parthenon and Temple of Aphrodite etc.), and then the Acropolis Museum at the end (which has only been opened to the public since 2009). Side note – if you plan on exploring a lot more of Athens other than whats on the tour, get the Athens City Pass – you can use the tickets on the tour itself, and it will save you some money as well.

At the end of the tour we found a really cute spot nearby to have lunch called Yard Cafe, which was really quaint and has an adorable outside patio. After that we went back to the hotel to relax for a little before dinner and I may or may not have taken a short nap (blaming it on the jet lag). After dragging myself out of bed we went to dinner at Lithos which is in an area called Psiri, aka the nightlife district of Athens.

There are a ton of restaurants, bars, and live music here, and I highly suggest walking around here after dinner. IF you want to do what we did, you can take a “Nightlife Tour” of Athens, which I thought was a lot of fun and informational, but not necessarily anything you cant do on your own (and thanks to me you will know the awesome “locals only” spots that they took us to on the tour… shhhh).

Some of my favorite bars from the night were: T.A.F. (The Art Foundation); Our first stop was at T.A.F. and I can easily say this was love at first sight. The entrance to the bar is off an alleyway that you wouldn’t necessarily find on your own, and once you walk through a small indoor room, you find yourself in a outdoor courtyard with trees, lights, and great music. The buildings surrounding the patio were once actual homes, and have since been bought and cleared out to use as occasional art galleries. T.A.F. has great vibes and great drinks as well. Six D.O.G.S; This multipurpose bar, project space, and garden, was originally opened in 2009 and is really one of the coolest places we went to. Mildly similar to the first, it also has an outdoor garden area with trees and beautiful lights. It’s a little more chill here than T.A.F. and is a great place to sit, soak in the ambiance, and enjoy one of the cocktails off their super extensive menu. Do yourselves a favor and go here for a drink, or two if you can’t pick just one. A for Athens Cocktail Bar; This was out last stop of the night and I’m so glad we didn’t skip it. It’s a rooftop bar with stunning views of The Acropolis, what more do you need.

Day 3:

We [unintentionally] slept in a little on this day (more than we intended to) and woke up around 11 am… oops. We decided to start our day with a late breakfast (Brunch?) and went to an area in Athens known as the Plaka District. Plaka is the only part of historical Athens that was kept intact (instead of the rest of Athens that was rebuilt and now looks like your typical big city). While it is somewhat of a touristy area, it has a ton of cute shops and restaurants, with cobblestone streets and winding roads, it is really a beautiful area to explore.

We had brunch here at a place I would definitely recommend called Anafiotika Cafe. The food and coffee was phenomenal, and it is situated at the top of some steps with a great view of the city. From there we walked to an ancient temple called The Temple of Haphaestos which is one of the only temples still fully intact, and was the temple of the blacksmith of the gods. From here we went back to the hotel for some more relaxation (no nap this time).

For our evening activities, we decided to kill some time before dinner at another rooftop bar we had been wanting to try called 360 Degrees. The cocktails here were not as great as those from the night before, but the view was equally as stunning. If you only have time for one of the two rooftops I would probably recommend this one, only because it is much bigger (more chances of getting a table) and has a more laid back feel.

From here we hopped in a cab to dinner nearby at Aleria, which is a modern take on traditional greek food and was sooo good, definitely a must if you want to try something different and absolutely delicious. After dinner we walked back to Psiri for dessert at Bougatsadiko Thessaloniki; you NEED to go here and get the bougatsa, it’s basically crispy phyllo dough stuffed with custard and topped with cinnamon, sugar, and honey. Brb while I go wipe the drool off my face…

Day 4:

While I was very sad to leave Athens (at 7 am in the morning no less), this meant it was time for Mykonos! We used the SeaJets Ferry because we heard it was the fastest, and it got us from Athens to Mykonos in just under 3 hours. I know some people chose to do this by plane, but I prefer to avoid flying when possible, and no, I did not even get remotely sea sick on the ferry.

Once in Mykonos we took a ridiculously overpriced cab (your options will be limited so we didn’t have much of a choice) to the San Marco Luxury Hotel and Villas. I am going to preface this by saying that I truly loved the hotel itself (great pool, amazing breakfast buffet, large rooms) but the location was relatively far from most of the things we wanted to do. I would recommend trying to find a hotel near Mykonos Town so you are closer to the middle of the Island. Once checked in, my boyfriend was picked up to go get our ATV that we rented for the 3 days there – this is a MUST DO. Cabs are way too expensive and there’s a limited amount of them; basically for the price of two cab rides per day, you can get an ATV and drive all over the island yourself.

Once we acquired our ATV, it was off to our first stop, Kiki’s Tavern. My boyfriend found this place on Trip Adviser and after reading about it on multiple Greece Travel sites we decided it was a must do. Kiki’s Tavern is a very small restaurant located in Agios Sostis. There’s no sign on the outside so if you can’t find it just ask, someone will point you in the right direction, or park where you see a row of cars and follow the gravel pathway. The restaurant itself does not use electricity or phones, so you can’t call in ahead to make a reservation, and they only recently started accepting credit cards for payment.

To eat at Kiki’s Tavern you just need to show up – first seating is around 12:30 pm (get there by noon to beat the line) and second is around 1:30-2 pm. The restaurant holds about 30 people at a time and the owner somehow remembers the exact order you arrived in without writing a single thing down (with a memory like that he could have definitely gone to med school).

The food is hand selected daily at a local market and everything is cooked on a charcoal grill. There is also an extensive selection of salads and vegetables that are made fresh and all looked delicious (it was really hard to choose just two). Heads up, the portions are fairly large. We got a grilled pork chop (one of their specialties), grilled feta with peppers, and two side salads (chickpea and artichoke salad) and that was plenty.

After stuffing our faces at Kiki’s, we went down to Agios Sostis Beach for a while. It is really beautiful here because the beach is in a cove, so you have the ocean with the mountains in the background – truly breathtaking. After an hour or so, we ATV’d back to our hotel to relax and prepare for dinner. For our first Mykonos sunset, we really planned ahead and made reservations at Katarina’s Bar in Little Venice. I say that we planned ahead because the restaurant has prime views of the sunset, IF you snag one of the 6 tables they have on the balcony (3 on each level).

Call and make a reservation here as soon as you can because not only was it the best view imaginable, but probably the best pasta dish I have ever had, hands down (and that’s saying something). If you’re like me and are always chilly, bring a sweater because once the sun is gone, so are all hopes of warmth. After dinner we wandered around the Little Venice area, had some gelato, and stopped at Scarpa Bar for a few cocktails. I highly recommend this place for drinks, they know what they’re doing.

Day 5:

In Mykonos it’s pretty simple to decide what you’re doing every day, and the hardest decision you are going to face is which of the multiple beaches you are going to go to. On day two on the island, we decided to go to Platis Gialos Beach. This beach is known for being a popular beach, that is not too pricey, and has some great restaurants (if you know anything about me you already know that most of my decisions are based on or around food). Once you get to the beach, ask around to find the cheapest spot to buy a sunbed – the prices range anywhere from 10 – 30 euro per person depending on the location of the sunbed and if anything is included (a cocktail, wifi, etc.). After laying around for a few hours, we decided to have lunch on the beach at Yialo-Yialo. If you like muscles (even if you only kind of like muscles), get them, trust me. Aside from that everything else there was amazing, you can’t go wrong.

After lunch we went back to the hotel to relax and get ready for dinner. For our second night we picked somewhere with not as great of a sunset view (mountain obstruction) but equally as amazing ambiance called Apaggio. This restaurant is located right next to Ornos Beach, and is too cute of a place to pass up. The outside patio is located right on the water, and the ceiling has hanging fiber optic strings everywhere that get brighter as it gets darker outside.

Honestly the whole dining experience was truly magical, and the sangria was on point too.  After dinner you can choose to go to the number one club in Mykonos, Cavo Paradiso, which we almost did (I mean, check out that line up), orrr you can go home and sleep (which is what we did, #grandmastatus #notashamed). If you want to check out the club scene, but maybe do something not as intense, here are some other options.

Day 6:

On our last day in Mykonos we basically did the same thing as the other two days, beach, eat, and chill. We heard great things about Paradise Beach and wanted to experience a little bit more of the “party scene” so we went there. I will say that the cocktails here were cheaper than the other beaches, but the beach itself wasn’t my absolute favorite. The lounge chairs weren’t as nice and the food selection was a bit more limited. It really just depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for, so here are some ideas about which Mykonos Beaches are known for what.

We decided to leave for lunch and go to another, much more secluded beach that had a pretty great restaurant directly on the sand called Joanna’s Nikos Place. This restaurant is located on Megali Ammos Beach, and while the service was a little bit slow, the food was really incredible. It’s definitely a great lunch spot to add to your list if you want to eat well and sit right on the water. After lunch we made a quick pit stop to visit the Iconic Mykonos Windmills before heading back to the hotel.

The restaurant we chose for our last night in Mykonos was Scorpios. Scorpios had been super high on my list for a while, and I’m really glad we went. That being said, it was probably the most expensive restaurant in Mykonos, but between the ridiculous sunset view and the outstanding food, definitely worth it.

There is also a section with tables reserved for bottle service, and some great music playing in the background. After dinner you can definitely stick around here to party, or if you can just chill on their beach section and listen to the beats (P.S. Scorpios is also on the list of best “clubs” that I mentioned before, even though it’s so  much more than just a beach club).

Day 7:

This morning was a bittersweet morning or me because A. we were going to the most anticipated stop on our trip, Santorini. and B. I knew that meant our vacation was starting to come to a close. We took another SeaJets Ferry, and got into Santorini at about 12 pm. From the port, we took a shuttle to our hotel, Sophia Suites. Please take a moment to check out the reviews (and the photos). If you want the best room they have (I promise you it really is the BEST room) ask for room #305 (shout out my hometown area code #miami). The room itself is one of their Aurora Cave Suites and has its own mini pool, sun deck, and patio to eat breakfast overlooking the Santorini Caldera. I am not exaggerating when I say I have never ever stayed somewhere with a view like this, and would stay in that exact room over and over again if given the chance.

Once we finally lifted our jaws off the ground, we were picked up for our Santorini sunset cruise. The company has quite a flew options, but after doing a decent amount of research and comparing multiple vessels and itineraries, I definitely recommend the one we chose. The boat was big enough that it wasn’t crowded, and a small enough group to still feel like a somewhat private trip.

The tour included stops at Santorini’s red beach, white beach, and hot springs, and then parked below Oia to watch the sun set from the water, all with beer, wine, and a delicious fresh made grilled lunch. It was honestly one of the highlights of our trip. Once the shuttle dropped us off back in Imerovigli (where our hotel was) we had a light dinner at Avocado, before heading back to the hotel.

Day 8:

Let me start off by saying, Oh Em Gee, there are NO words for the breakfast we had this morning. You select whatever you want from a menu the night before (we had pancakes, omelettes, greek yogurt with walnuts and honey, loukoumades, juice, and coffee), and let the hotel know what time you want breakfast delivered. They bring it right to you door, on your patio, overlooking Santorini for the sunrise. Obviously we ate in our robes and slippers and had to pinch ourselves to make sure that it was real.

After breakfast we went exploring, and by exploring I mean we walked 5 miles (about two hours) from Imerovigli to Oia (btw, it’s pronounce ee-yuh), on one of the most famous (and beautiful paths) in Santorini. The entire walkway is along the edge of a cliff, and you even get to see some of the other incredible hotels along the way. I will admit that we threw in a 20 minute donkey ride along the way (for only 10 Euro!) to break up the trip and experience a traditional Greek custom.

Once we made it to Oia, we had lunch at Floga, and walked around Oia for a little, before hopping on a bus back to Imerovigli. Side note – when in Oia, if you have any interest in getting a photo of the picturesque blue domes, you can ask a local where to go, or you can follow this wonderful man’s directions (thank you Kenneth!).

After getting back to the hotel, we decided to just enjoy the pool, sundeck, and scenery for several hours before getting ready for dinner. We watched the sunset from our room first because honestly, I don’t think there is a better spot to watch the sunset from (because we were so high up, we could even see over the small volcanic islands). We then headed over to Fira for dinner at Character, which is a Greek restaurant with an Italian flare – and AMAZING. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten as much food as I did that night.

Day 9:

For our last day in Santorini we decided to do something both fun and educational; a Santorini Wine Tour (duh). Honestly though, tell me a better way to learn a little about the country’s history and enjoy some good food and wine along the way. Plus I’m clearly not the only person who thinks that way because check out these reviews. The tour takes you to three different wineries, and gives you samples of some breads, dips, and cheeses. Of course there are different tour options depending on if you want lunch included, a cooking class, etc., but we just did the wine tour and it was perfecto.

After the tour, we had a light lunch from Mezzo, which we took ‘to go’ and ate from our hotel, in our own private pool, overlooking the water, which I am still not over. Several hours (and a few more glasses of wine) later, we sadly got ready for our last night in Greece. We watched the sunset from our hotel room (again), and took a bunch of cheesy photos together (to whoever invented tripods and camera remotes – thank you).

We decided to have dinner our last night at a restaurant called La Maison, which is a Greek restaurant with a modern french flare, and was really really unique and cool. The portions are on the smaller side so order a few things, plus you’ll want to try the different flavors they are serving. Everything we had was amazing, and it was the best ending to a truly magical trip.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my Greece vacation at least half as much as I enjoyed the trip itself, and I apologize for the lengthy article, but it is a destination I am incredibly passionate about. If you have any questions at all about the trip (or my itinerary, which I have attached), the restaurants, or anything at all, please comment below or contact me, and I will be happy to help in any way that I can! P.S. Check out Facebook for my full album.

XoXo

-Erica

Fashion Out of the Office

These Are Just Summer My Favorite Things

Posted on July 3, 2017

Every year while everyone is celebrating the red white and blue of our country’s independence, I am also celebrating becoming another year older (well, almost… July 5th baby). I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty cool getting fireworks relatively close to your birthday, and on top of that I never have to worry about whether or not people are going to be out celebrating.

Since I am insistently studying for boards this year, I decided to save some time and just celebrate my birthday a day early (that’s totally allowed, right?!) by having a Fourth of July beach BBQ with friends. Since my birthday is one of my favorite things, I saved a bunch of my favorite summer items specifically for this day so I could show them off, and share them with you! Like I said in my about me, I’m no fashionista and don’t have a ‘like to know it’ account, but I will definitely show you where to get these items (and similar ones) so you’ll be able to flaunt them all summer too.

Let’s start off with this bathing suit. HFS I am beyond obsessed with it; But not just THIS bathing suit, every single one from Montce Swim (and no, this is #notanad). Literally my entire bathing suit drawer is from them. Soo back to this particular suit… I was looking for something somewhat retro but still modern and had been eyeing their Gingham Cabana Top and High Rise Bottom for some time. I finally pulled the trigger and got it for myself as an early b-day gift and I’m so glad I did.

The bottom is high wasted but can be folded over if you want a lower tan line and the adorable straps can be removed if you’re going for that strapless look. Don’t be surprised if this is the only bathing suit I wear for the remainder of the year. That being said, I can’t say that they are necessarily the most affordable, but they fit amazing and the styles are all awesome. If you keep an eye out and sign up for their emails, they do go on sale a few times a year (and you can get 10% off just for signing up).

Next, let’s talk accessories. This adorable cover up from Echo Design is my absolute favorite right now. It’s simple (which I love) but really great quality. In addition, it gives you the option of leaving it open or tying the front (so I can close it up if I’m going into a restaurant or beach bar). It also comes in a few different colors and isn’t too pricey. While we are on the subject of great things that aren’t pricey, I have also discovered the best sunglasses.

I briefly mentioned these to you guys in one of my previous Instagram posts, but I just got my second pair of Diff Eyewear sunglasses and I’m crushing hard. These Becky’s are their brand new style and fit perfectly with the modern retro look I’m going for this Fourth of July. Side note: for every pair of sunglasses purchased, Diff donates a pair of reading glasses to someone in need, which is pretty great. Check them out to see all the cool styles and colors of sunnies they make, and use ERICADIFF to get 25% off if you want a pair (or two) for yourself.

As far as final accessories go, everyone knows the bag and shoes can make or break your outfit. I’m really liking these new sandals I found from Steve Madden. They’re the Rozie Sandals in cognac and they have a really cute gold accent along the front to make them slightly fancier than your average sandal; and the best part? They’re on sale (seriously, who doesn’t love a good sale item?). Orrr you can get my other favorite pair of sandals (Sorry, these aren’t on sale, but they’re totally worth checking out).

This Tory Burch canvas tote has also been my go to beach bag for as long as I can remember. It was a gift forever ago and I refuse to replace it. I did however just make this cute tassel pom-pom charm to accessorize it with (DIY post coming soon? Or you can purchase a similar one here); I think it really makes the bag much more trendy and fun. There are plenty of other beach bags I found that are super cute if you want something fun and budget friendly. (especially this one).

Lastly, I wanted to talk about something else that my friends just introduced me to and OMG is it a game changer. Did you guys know you could literally get money back on things that you buy for NO REASON AT ALL?! So if you’re late to the party like me, it’s called Ebates, and it’s literally a website that you sign up for and get a certain percentage back on things you buy, from websites that you already shop at. If only I had known about this years ago I would have saved a ton of money by now. If you want to sign up just to check it out (it’s free) use my referral link, and if you spend $25 we will both be rewarded. Sounds like a win-win to me, unless you hate earning cash back and saving money while you pay for things you were going to buy anyway, then definitely don’t sign up.

Now that I have shared my favorite summer fashion items with you guys, and my new-found secret to saving money while you shop, I just wanted to say I hope you all have an amazing Fourth of July! Don’t forget to use sunscreen (at least an SPF of 30) and to reapply every 2 hours! Also, please stay away from fireworks… we don’t want you to spend your holiday in the emergency room.

XoXo -Erica

Medicine Residency

Rocking a Long White Coat

Posted on June 20, 2017

As we near the end of June, there are newly minted doctors everywhere about to start orientation all over the world. This orientation is different than the others because this is the beginning of residency, which means you are finally going to rock that long white coat. Not only is there a level of achievement with this new accessory to your wardrobe, but also new responsibilities. #notreadytoadultyet

Photo by @the.physicians.kitchen

I remember the first day I put on my long coat; my name was on it like my old one, but instead of ‘student’ it said ‘resident.’ I was cheesing soo hard that day. I also remember being so eager to finally have my own pager (boy did that feeling change quickly). There were so many emotions happening all at once during orientation week; excitement and accomplishment, but also some fear and uneasiness. As each day of orientation passed and my first day of residency neared, the enthusiasm peaced out and the anxiety really kicked in.

Starting residency is something we all wait for our whole lives, but it can also be a little overwhelming. Now that I am in my last few weeks and about to become an attending (oh em gee where did those three years of my life go?!), I wanted to give you guys some tips that were helpful to me during residency training, with an emphasis on how not to freak the eff out during your first few months.

Photo by @mike.natter

Let me start off by saying that I promise you, there is really nothing to be THAT scared of. When you break it down and think about it realistically, there will always be (at least) one person watching over everything you do, if not more. Whether it’s a senior resident, attending, or someone else, these people are here to watch you succeed, not to watch you fail. There will obviously be some seniors who will want to be more involved in the care of your patients than others, but no one is going to make you manage a patient completely on your own, especially not during your first few months. (This isn’t sink or swim).

That being said, if you are not sure about something and your senior resident hasn’t addressed it with you yet, don’t ever hesitate to ask. There were definitely times when I felt like I was asking stupid questions (even though they say there is no such thing), but if you don’t ask, you will never learn. It’s O.K. to feel unsure of what you’re doing at first, and asking questions will only help you become a better physician in the future. I didn’t become really confident until after I ran my own medicine team as a second year resident, and even then I still had questions (that’s what residency is for, to learn, even if it is from your own mistakes).

Photo by @doctor.alixandra

Don’t ever forget you have multiple people looking out for you. Not just other residents and attendings, but nurses, pharmacists, radiologists, etc- they are always available to answer questions, and most of them enjoy being able to teach you a few things that they know as well. Side note: Be nice to everyone. You never know when you will need help from someone, and the saying is 100% true, “you will attract more bees with honey than with vinegar” (thanks mom).

Start by covering the basics; one of the easiest things you can do to prepare for your transition is to get to know the EMR system. If you did an audition rotation where you will be training, you will already be somewhat familiar with the computer system, but if not, it’s a good idea to sit down and explore. EMR can either be your best friend or your worst enemy depending on how well you know how to use it. Ask those ahead of you if they have any pointers; I didn’t figure out all the tips and tricks to mine until halfway through my intern year, and my life would have been so much easier if I had done this sooner.

Photo by @e_guo

Another thing you can tackle right away is making sure you address the little things you are confident enough to do on your own. Examples of this includes replacing electrolytes, making sure patients have PRN medications for headache and nausea, etc; Basically, taking care of minutia will eliminate you getting paged for things you could have easily avoided.

Something I did to help me with this was to fill out templates with my patient’s information. These templates included a brief background of each patient, daily labs, meds, allergies, things already done, and things pending (I’ll attach one to the bottom of this article for you guys). If you put a box next to each item you need to do or order, and check it off as it gets done, you won’t forget to do these things as the day progresses.

Photo by @dan_arms

One more tip that I thought was insanely important during residency- take notes! Always have a small notebook handy and if someone is telling you a pearl, giving you valuable information, or just sharing one of their experiences with you, Write. It. Down. You may not think it’s important at that moment, but when you find yourself in a similar situation, you will wish you had it documented somewhere to go back to. In addition, don’t hesitate to look things up, and always have something handy as a reference (also, please purchase a Pocket Medicine if you don’t own one already).

Photo by @danamic_do

Lastly, if you are feeling more anxious than you expected, just remember that you’re not alone. There are plenty of others feeling the exact same way as you are, and the people who are now supervising you were once in your shoes as well. Not only do your fellow residents have your back, but don’t forget all of the family members, loved ones, and friends who are cheering for you too. They are your biggest fans, and you will always have someone to hand you a tissue or take a shot with you when the time calls for it.

Photo by @rebeca_kelly

Congrats again to all of the new med school graduates, and any other grads out there about to start at a new chapter in your life. You are all going to kill it (seriously though, no pun intended).

XoXo -Erica

 

Admission Template:

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Fashion Lifestyle

Relaxation Essentials

Posted on June 16, 2017

I don’t know about you, but there are few things in this world that make me happier than bumming around and doing absolutely nothing, All. Day. Long. (aside from chocolate, and maybe Harry Potter reruns). Whether it’s 5 pm and I just got home from work or Sunday afternoon and I just woke up, the first thing I do is throw on a pair of slippers and go digging through my bed sheets for the remote. While I do think it is important to stay active, I also know there is nothing more comforting than having absolutely nothing to do but catch up on the last episode of The Bachelorette, take a soak in the bath tub, and eat some garbage food (it’s ok, it’s cheat day).

Everyone likes to spend their free time differently, but I am pretty confident in saying that everyone enjoys some R&R here and there, amiright? That being said, I wanted to share a few of my absolute relaxation essentials with you guys, ’cause I’m sure you’re going to love them just as much as I do.

Comfort:
There are many ways one can define the term “comfort.” To some it might mean a soft shirt or clean sheets, but to me it means warmth. I have lived in Florida my entire life and I do not think my body would be physically capable of living anywhere up north (that pretty much eliminates the rest of the US). My hands and feet are constantly at sub-zero temperatures, and at times I’m convinced I have Raynaud’s Disease (“cold hands warm heart,” they say). Sometimes socks will do the trick to keep those icicles I call feet under control, but most of the time I have to turn to slippers to keep them in check.

I have recently discovered the most amazing slippers, and the first thing I thought was “I need to share these with EVERYONE,” because they are way to good to keep a secret. Not only are they only $20 on amazon (with free prime shipping), but they are warm, comfortable, AND they come in 13 different colors! I honestly can’t rave about these enough. I’m literally wearing them right now and even considered wearing them grocery shopping yesterday (slippers in public are socially acceptable right?).

Ambiance:
If you’re not addicted to binge watching as many television series as possible like I am (please send any personal recommendations my way), then ambiance is super important when taking some time for yourself to relax. My favorite thing to do when not watching trashy T.V. is to light some candles and get in the bath tub. But you can’t just light any candle, and you cant just get in any bath water. Candle of choice (hands down), is Capri Blue’s “Volcano Candle.” Light this baby up and give it 5 minutes until your entire bathroom smells like heaven on steroids. I don’t know exactly what it is about that candle but man is it good.

Next up, bath water of choice? Any Lush Bath Bomb that the company makes is customer approved by me. But that being said, they are not the most wallet friendly of products, so I have attached my next favorite (more affordable) bath bomb set (see “shop my favorites” below). Lastly, no bath session is complete without some good tunes, and by that I obviously mean John Meyer (because nothing is more soothing than the sound of that man’s voice). As far as stereo selection goes, I recommend an Amazon Echo (or if you want to save some $$, the Amazon Dot). You can speak to it like it’s Siri and ask it to change the music for you without having to run through your bathroom like a fish out of water or accidentally dropping your phone in the tub. Huge plus.

Sustenance:
I typically like to make sure I am eating somewhat healthy throughout the week (which is not always easy with hospital food but I think I’m doing alright), so on the weekends and my lazy days I like to eat some “comfort food.” This usually consists of my favorite chocolate, the “Firecracker” bar by Chuao Chocolatier, and a glass of red wine. This chocolate bar is made of dark chocolate from Venezuela and contains sea salt, chipotle, and popping candy – need I say more?

Aside from chocolate and wine, I occasionally squeeze in a real meal (JK, I literally eat non-stop). If you live anywhere in Florida or the Northeast US, you should know what Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza is. If you don’t know what it is, I apologize. If you don’t know what it is but you just looked it up and discovered that you live near one, go there, now. My go-to is the pepperoni mushroom pizza with light sauce, the Anthony’s salad with gorgonzola cheese (the dressing is SO addicting), and their coal fired wings or a side of meatballs. Anndd now I’m salivating.

Now that I have let you all in on the secrets to a perfect Sunday, I hope you take some of my advice and try a few of these things out. If you love them, you’re welcome, if you hate them… well, I’m pretty sure you won’t hate them.

XoXo -Erica


Places I've Been Travel

I Heart Iceland

Posted on June 15, 2017

Has anyone else noticed a serious spike in people traveling to Iceland lately? I mean, a few years ago it was definitely not on the top of my bucket travel list, but lately it seems like everyone and their mother has been going, myself included. There is in fact a very reasonable explanation to this, it’s ah-mazing. Iceland, aka the land of fire and ice, is literally just that. You can walk up to (or inside of) a glacier one minute, and find yourself standing on a black volcanic sand beach the next. There’s Reykjavík if you want a fun, populated town, anddd everywhere else if you want a more rural experience; but don’t get me wrong, the rural areas are where all the beauty is.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what part of my trip to Iceland was the most incredible. I feel like every place I went was even more jaw dropping than the last, and I’d be lying to you if I said I wouldn’t go back there and do it all again. I wanted to tell you guys about all the awesome must-see places I’m talking about, but also give you a little more info as to why this has become one of the most popular travel destinations over the past few years.

For starters, direct flights from New York to Iceland are about 200-400$ on Icelandair. On top of that, the flight itself is only 5 ½ hours long. Name another overseas country you can get to for that price and in that amount of time… I’ll wait. In addition to both of those things, Icelandair ALSO offers what they call and Iceland “stopover,” which means if you are traveling from the US or Canada to Europe, you can literally stop-over in Iceland for up to 7 nights at no additional cost to your flight. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Whether Iceland is your primary destination or your stop-over, there are a few places there that you absolutely need to add to your list. Since you will most likely be landing in Reykjavík, let’s start there. Reykjavík is known for having the largest population in all of Iceland, at a whopping 120,000 people, and at the center is the Hallgrímskirkja Church. This Evangelical-Lutherin parish church is one of the most visited places in Iceland. It was built from 1945 to 1986 and dedicated to the most recognized poet of Iceland, Hallgrímur Pétursson.

The tower itself is 74 meters high (about 240 feet), and sits on top of a hill, so you can literally see it from anywhere (this was very helpful to me and my poor directional skills). In addition, the concert organ inside is the largest in the country, at 15 meters high, with 5275 pipes, and weighs about 25 tons. I offer 10 million dollars to whoever can bring it to me as a souvenir. Ready, GO!

Your next stop in Iceland, though not nearly as large, should be the Sun Voyager, a very cool sculpture of a ship. In 1986 a competition was held to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Reykjavík and Jón Gunnar’s Sun Voyager won. While most people assume it to be a Viking ship, it was built with the intention of being a “Sun Ship” which Gunnar stated would “symbolize the promise of new, undiscovered territory.” Today there are many other interpretations of the sculpture, but I’m sticking with Viking ship. Plus its cooler to take photos with it if you have a Viking hat on.

Photo by @jennalynnetrofin

Some cool places to eat/drink in Reykjavík include but are not limited to: an awesome Gastro Pub where you can try some of the local cuisine like whale, horse, and puffin (which you can also buy stuffed animals of in every gift shop). There is also the CUTEST coffee shop with the nicest owner called Café Babalú which I highly suggest you check out for a coffee or snack on your way to the church. As far as nightlife is concerned, these people know how to party (but only on weekends, otherwise everything closes at 10 pm). I recommend a great bar called The Drunk Rabbit, which ironically is an Irish Pub, but the drinks are reasonably priced and they have a wheel that you can spin and win prizes! Who doesn’t love winning free stuff?

My next piece of advice is to rent a car and travel east along the southern coast of Iceland. Once you leave Reykjavík, the best stops to make (in my opinion) are at the numerous breath taking waterfalls all over the country. For the purpose of saving time, I’m just going to list some of the must-see ones here: Gullfoss (32 meters high, the view is from the top), Seljalandsfoss (60 meters high, you can even walk behind this one), Skógaffoss (60 meters high and 25 meters wide, this one was my absolute favorite), Svartifoss (known because it falls over hexagonal basalt columns and provided inspiration for the Hallgrímskirkja Church). There are plenty more waterfalls around, but these are the ones that are most well known and easiest to get to.

There are some other must see things along this drive (most famously known as The Golden Circle). Thingvellir National Park is one of the only places in the world where you can actually walk between two tectonic plates (the Eurasian and North American), and it is also the location of some GOT scenes (for example the pass to the Eyrie was filmed here). If you want to visit some other natural phenomenons aside from waterfalls and tectonic plates (cause now we’re spoiled and want more), the Great Geysir and Strokkur Geysir are very cool, they explode frequently, and they are located right next to a small rest stop with food and bathrooms which makes it a nice little break in your drive.

Another stop that I recommend making is basically anywhere on the side of the road where you see wild Icelandic Horses. Though they look like pony’s, they are actually horses and are a pure breed to the territory (Icelandic law prevents horses from being imported into the country and exported animals are not allowed to return). They’re cute, and friendly, and if it wasn’t cold and rainy I probably would have taken a bazillion more pictures with them.

Continuing eastward there are plenty of other things to see. Ever since it’s most recent eruption in 2010, Eyjafjallajökull Volcano has been talked about for causing hundreds of flights to shut down that were traveling over Iceland. Now, at the base of the volcano is a visitor center (aka a mini museum) run by a local farmer and his family that showcases what Icelanders went through during the eruption, and how some of them still live at the base of an active volcano.

Near the volcano is the Skógar Museum, a is a cultural heritage collection of 15,000 regional folk artifacts which is a great experience if you want to learn more about Icelandic history. I thought this was cool because I personally like learning some background info about the places I travel to as well. After all of these activities (or sooner depending on your timing), a good thing to is to find a hotel to check into. I HIGHLY recommend staying at Hotel Katla, on Hofdabrekka in Vík. It may look like it’s in the middle of nowhere (which it is), but the dinner buffet here is incredible (just say buffet and I’m there) and the rooms are super cute and cozy.

Staying overnight in Vík will allow you to keep trekking east to your goal destination (and my absolute favorite part of the trip), Vatnajökull National Park, where you will find the Jökusarlon Lagoon (aka the glacier lagoon). In this lagoon sits the Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier. As chunks of the glacier break off, they float out to sea through a small channel. Once at sea, the ice chunks are polished by the ocean waves and washed back onto the shore of a nearby black volcanic sand beach known as diamond beach.

The contrast between the black sand and the glistening ice pieces is truly an amazing site. You can even pretend to ‘walk’ on these ice chunks, but don’t let my photo fool you, I was standing very still and almost ate it… twice. In addition, Vík is also close to Reynisfjara Beach, another black sand beach with large basalt columns lining the rock at the edge of it. If you go searching you will find some small caves, but be careful because the tide will quickly come up and pull you back in with it.

Lastly, but certainly not least, is the Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s many hot spring baths. This one is the largest and most touristy, but regardless it’s a must do while in Iceland. Contrary to what some believe, this is not one of Iceland’s natural wonders; The Blue Lagoon was built in 1976 during an operation at the nearby Svartsengi power plant. People began bathing in the silica rich water and noticed significant improvements in their skin, so starting in 1987 the bath was open to the public. In addition, there is now a special clinic for psoriasis patients and the blue lagoon launched its own line of skin care products.

Now, not only is the Blue Lagoon one of the most visited attractions in Iceland, but after renovations from 2003-2013 there are retail shops and an awesome hotel you can stay at that is just a 10 minute walk to the lagoon itself. I honestly had a truly amazing time hanging out here all day, but if you want to opt for a less crowded and more personal hot spring experience, there are plenty of other options scattered throughout Iceland. Regardless of which hot spring you visit, don’t forget to keep your hair out of the water (they even tell you to shower and condition it beforehand), take your jewelry off, and to come with a waterproof camera, because you’re going to want photos (a waterproof phone case should work too… hopefully).

Before you start planning your trip to Iceland, there are a few things to consider. Do you plan on trying to catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis? If yes, the best time for you to go is September though March, when you get the most darkness (but this is variable, for example in December and January the sun sets around 4 pm and rises at about 11 am). There are tours you can book to help you track the lights, but my recommendation is to grab a bottle of wine (or any alcohol of choice) and to drive out until you find a large clear spot of sky (cloud coverage is one of the biggest hindrances to spotting those babies).

You can use specific websites to track the aurora activity and cloud coverage in order to maximize your chance of seeing them on your own. Don’t forget your tripod and a flashlight! I also used a wireless camera remote, but setting a timer on your camera will do the trick of avoiding excess motion as well. Before I went, I read some professional photography sites to learn the best settings for capturing decent photos. However, if you don’t really care for northern lights hunting and prefer to get the most out of your daylight, then the summer months are better, where you will likely still have sunlight at 12 am.

There is one place that I wanted to go to and didn’t have the time (but also didn’t really want to walk an hour in the cold and rain). This is the famous DC-3 US Navy airplane that crashed on Sólheimasandur Beach on November 24th 1973. Believe it or not there are still remains of the plane, and it is one of the most iconic stops to visit in Iceland. That being said, it is now prohibited to drive vehicles on the beach, and it’s about a 3 mile walk from the road to find the plane. It is possible to get there on your own if you’re determined enough, but there are also tours you can sign up for if you want the hard part done for you.

Photo by @srhxn

Regardless of when you go to Iceland, I can guarantee it will be a trip you never forget. There are so many amazing things I saw, yet so many others I would love to still explore. Maybe you’ll even be lucky enough to stay at a hotel that provides clean, pure, Icelandic glacier ice for happy hour. Happy travels everyone!! P.S. for more photos from my Iceland trip check out my Facebook page!

XoXo -Erica