Why the flu vaccine is especially important this year
Winter is coming. So is what experts are calling "twindemic" season...
Not only is COVID still going strong - with the US fastly closing in on 7 million cases and 200,000 deaths - but flu season will be upon us soon as well.
As your FB doctor friend, please get your flu vaccine and remind your loved ones to get it as well! Not only can it decrease your risk of getting the flu by up to 60%, it can drastically reduce the severity of your disease course even if you do get it. It could very well save you from a hospitalization, which will be key with COVID numbers expected to rise as well this winter.
#liveVICTORIOUS but please stay safe and healthy!
(and yes, if it takes a dance to help you remember to get your vaccine, so be it!)
Work to Live
Are you working to live or living to work? 🤔
As a medical student and resident, we were encouraged to dive into medicine, dedicate, and even sacrifice ourselves for patient care and research. Pulling all nighters 🌙 and enduring 36 hour shifts were the norm. When a senior came into rounds so sick he was hooked up to an IV pole, we were impressed. When a co-resident came back to work just a few weeks after having her baby, she was applauded.
It was engrained in us to live for work. 😓💪🏼
It has taken me 10 years since graduation to retrain myself and realize that this is not healthy nor sustainable. These are the unrealistic expectations that will eventually lead to resentment and burnout. 💔
As much as my brain still protests, I have to remind myself that it’s OK to relax. That choosing my family over work is acceptable (in fact, should be expected!!!). And that my own well being is just as important as a patient's. Moreover I have come to realize that to a job (no matter how amazing and well paid, or how hard I work), I am 💯 replaceable. But to my kids, family, and friends, I am not.
And so while I love being a physician 👩🏻⚕️ - it is a job, not my life. I must remind myself that I #worktolive🩺 the life of my dreams, not sacrifice my life and dreams for work...
#liveVICTORIOUS✌🏼 #worktolivenotlivetowork
You Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup
I am not going to lie - I have been feeling super duper stressed and overwhelmed these past few months.
I typically pride myself on handling difficult situations well - I mean I survived medical school and residency, right? 🩺 - but without any opportunity to relax or unwind since the pandemic (since the kids are around ALL. THE. TIME. now), it’s been especially tough...
Thankfully COVID numbers in Los Angeles have dropped a little recently, and so my parents are now more comfortable seeing the kids. And actually took them for the long weekend...!!!
So my husband and I have spend the last few days on #staycation - getting take out from wherever we want ; watching movies in the middle of the day; and taking long leisurely walks with the dogs ... Not having to rush anywhere or worry who is getting into what every minute of every day has been amazing and a huge burden off my shoulders.
I feel recharged and literally like a new person (Peter can attest!) ❤️ And now I understand more than ever the importance of refilling your own cup before tending to others’.
What did you do over the weekend? How are you recharging and refilling your cup...? ☕️
#liveVICTORIOUS✌🏼
Style Series: 90s Overalls
Happy #90sthrowback #styleSaturday!
It’s been over 20 years since I’ve dared to don a pair of overalls. But as my mom always says - Fashion comes back around!
I was on the fence about these, but considering all the different outfits I was able to get - I just might kept them! 😉
1. Casual - tank and sandals. I would keep these fitted and low profile - the overalls are the star.
2. Cute - camisole and wedges. Something I may wear to a BBQ (IF this were a normal Labor Day...)
3. Classic - a black long sleeve tee and espadrilles. Can never go wrong with basic black and white!
4. Dressy - a button-down and booties. OK I was the most apprehensive about this style, but I think it might be my favorite now! Just the right amount of edge. 😉
5. Weekend - a turtleneck and nude mules. Keep the turtleneck fitted and try some color. Love the magic a pointy toed nude flat does for elongating legs...
6. Date night - 😮 overalls dressed up!? Yes please! With an off the shoulder cropped top and heels! I love this unexpected twist.
What do you think? Would you try overalls again? Which is your favorite? ❤️
#liveVICTORIOUS✌🏼
1/ overalls Free People, tank Old Navy, sandals Steve Madden
2/ camisole Express, wedges Steve Madden
3/ tee JCrew, espadrilles Chanel
4/ top Karl Lagerfeld, booties Louboutin
5/ turtleneck JCrew, mules Vince
6/ top Bailey44, heels Gianvito Rossi
Back to School 2020: Testing and Tracing
This week is “back to school” for many families here in Los Angeles. It’s definitely been one for the books - as most classrooms will stay vacant and “back to school supplies” include laptops and blue light filtering glasses instead of pencils and papers.
But some hopeful news amid the chaos - over the weekend, the Los Angeles Unified School District sent out information about a new program - a plan to test all faculty, students, and families to identify and trace COVID cases to hopefully get everyone back into the classrooms sooner.
FINALLY!
Despite all the distractions and pressures from politicians, it has never been about whether school is important (of COURSE it is!), but making sure the students, teachers, and families are SAFE!!! 🙏🏼
In the letter to the parents, they called this testing and tracing program “unprecedented.” That may be the case here in the US, but this is how much of the rest of the world has controlled this pandemic - with widespread testing, identifying cases, and tracing/quarantining the sick.
In contrast, our politicians have been encouraging American citizens not to get tested and some LAUSD parents are already up in arms. Scientifically, how can you fix something if you don’t know the scope and scale? How can you effectively treat and quarantine if you don’t know who is actually sick?! Why is America as a whole so backwards on this...???
Is this plan without difficulties? Of course not. But this mama for one is thankful to LA Unified, Stanford, UCLA, Hopkins, Microsoft, Anthem, and HealthNet for stepping up and protecting our children where our administration has failed.
#liveVICTORIOUS✌🏼 #backtoschool2020
Style Series: 3 Rules of great proportions
Happy fashion Friday!
Not sure if Coco Chanel really said this, "Fashion is architecture; it is a matter of proportions.” But it is SO true.
Here are a few general "rules of thumb" for always looking put together (even when you don't feel like it). They happen to be opposites if that helps you remember. 😉
1. Loose-Fitted: If you have a loose top, pair it with tighter fitting bottoms for balance. The converse is also true - if you have a form fitting top, pair it with relaxed bottoms. Loose clothing all over can look sloppy, while tight fitting clothes head to toe can appear constricting.
2. Long-Short: To balance your outfit, change up the length of your outerwear. Pair a cropped jacket over maxi dresses to break up the lines, while a longer jacket/blazer/cardigan will balance a mini dress or shorts. A long coat over a long dress can be elegant if done juuuuust right, but can risk looking a bit frumpy, while short outerwear over a short dress can appear a little too childish for this mama...
3. Sexy-Demure: Girls just wanna have fun, sometimes - but let's face it, I'm not 21 anymore. 😁 So if I have a fun/sexy/strappy piece, I try to pair it with something more demure and covered up for balance, like this strappy camisole with a maxi skirt or a turtleneck with a feathered mini skirt.
Any general style rules you always follow?
outfit 1 - sweater 360 Cashmere, jeans Schoen by Yu, shoes Enrico Cuini
outfit 2 - tank GAP, pants Anthropologie, shoes Manolo Blahnik
outfit 3 - dress Free People, jacket GAP
outfit 4 - dress IRO, jacket ASOS, boots Stuart Weitzman
outfit 5 - tank Express, skirt Alice+Olivia
outfit 6 - turtleneck Amazon, skirt AQUA