LOVE NOTE #173: I Heart Pond's Clarant B3!

Hey Lovelies!

OhhhhEmmmmGeeeee.  I love, love, love this stuff in the pink jar!  A true drugstore gem!  And it's made by Pond's of all companies... which is great because they are easy on the wallet and have been around since 1846.  I always believed to get an effective product, you would have to pay beacoup bucks for a big name brand.  What took me so long to find this little miracle in a jar?  I am unsure when it became available here in the Unites States, but evidently, Pond's is huge in Mexico.  I've never tried or considered Pond's because I've always had sensitive-combination skin.  Many of their products are mineral-oil based - so it goes against everything I've been taught as being a good-for-your-skin type ingredient.

I was actually searching for a skin treatment to help with the unevenness of my skin - what from past acne scars as well as the sun damage I've been accumulating of the years.  I spent years trying to turn my pale Asian skin into a golden tan.  The glow was so lovely, but it has left me with sun spots too.  My days laying out are over unfortunately as I know how damaging it is to my skin.  I guess I can always use a self-tanner if I want color in the future.

Those days baking to get a sun-kissed glow have left me with so many freckles that I decided I needed a dark-spot cream.  I stumbled upon this at Walgreen's and it was $10.99 for a 7 oz. jar and it came with a mini-travel jar as a freebie.  I was sold.  Now the question is, would it work?   I purchased the normal-to-oily formula and it actually does not contain any mineral oil.  I was just going to use this on my arms and hands, but realized that it was actually marketed to be used on the face.  So I brought it home, excited to give it a try.  The jars come sealed which is nice, so you know you're getting a fresh jar that no one has dipped their fingers into yet!  I peeled off the safety seal excited and afraid of what I would find.  I sampled some and it felt like whipped butter.  The texture was amazing!  I first applied it to the back of my hands where I had some sunspots and then to my upper arms because I have some weird tan lines going on there (not cute!)  There is a fresh scent - hard to describe, but very pleasant (if you have allergies to fragrance, probably not a good idea to purchase this product!) and I really liked it.  Slowly I applied some to my chin, cheeks, and forehead.  It felt so light!  And it seemed to keep my skin matte but moisturized at the same time  - with no greasy after feel.  I have not experienced any rashes or additional acne...just brighter, clearer, softer, smoother skin ... Wow...Yay!

It's an amazingly overlooked product that is hard to find (so no, I will not share with you which Walgreen's I found it at in Chicago - Tee-hee!)   But on Amazon you can actually get a 2-pack and both jars are 7 oz. for around $15 - a much better value!  When I looked at the ingredients there are actually sunscreen filters.  I still apply Olay Complete over this during the day for the SPF 15 protection, just to be safe.  It feels so nice on the skin and I'm sorry I overlooked the Pond's brand for so long.  This is definitely a staple in my daily routine now.  I have been using it a few days and have noticed that my complexion is becoming more even toned and the freckles appear to be lightening a bit.  I liked it so much I have it on automatic order, "Subscribe and Save" via Amazon to get a bit of a discount - $14.27 for two jars!  What an underrated product in America.  It's huge in Mexico.  I know, I never thought of Mexico as being known for their skincare products either and I'm so glad I'm taking a second look!  After all, even the fiance thinks Mexican Coca Cola tastes better than U.S. Coca Cola (Mexican coke uses cane sugar!)  Take home message:  it's just good to keep an open mind because you never know what amazing things you can find!

XoX,

Marikym

P.S.  I also sampled the normal-to-dry formula and it does not have the same whip-like consistency.  It does have mineral oil in it and feels a bit more slippery/emollient.  It has the same fresh scent and more suitable for dry skin types.

LOVE NOTE #172: STEP 2 CS: DONE!

Hello Friends!

I've been wogging (very slow jogging or walking/jogging combo) lately to combat the anxiety and stress I've been experiencing since I took my Step 2 CS exam on August 14.  The good news is that it has definitely helping not only my mental frame of mind, but it's been doing something quite nice to my figure - firming up and dropping some poundage!  Like my new kicks that have been helping me make my laps in Lincoln Park?  Black with just that touch of pink ... er, okay, a bold touch;)  The better news is that I found out I passed my exam on Wednesday this week.  Results are always announced on Wednesdays.  So Tuesday night I found myself unable to fall asleep until 3 a.m.  When I woke up around 8:30, I checked my email and there was a notification that my results were available.  I was excited, nervous, anxious... you name it.  I couldn't seem to log into my account soon enough.  When I was able to pull up my results, I squealed with delight when I found out I passed!  I was sooooo relieved.  You are graded on 3 components on this exam, and if you fail one section, you fail the whole thing. That means you will need to sit through another 8 hour ordeal.  Fortunately, I will never have to take this exam ever again...phew!


Some students say it's the easiest among the board exams.  I say, don't underestimate it.  Three components to the PASS/FAIL exam and you must pass each component.  Fail one section, you faill the whole thing... but no pressure.  Definitely review cases from First Aid for Step 2 CS.  Definitely practice these cases with another student, friend, spouse.  Definitely time yourself!  Also, practice on the software provided on the USMLE website to familiarize yourself with the patient note format.  You have 15 minutes for H & P and 10 minutes to write your PN - and it must now be typed.  So if you are rusty on your typing skills, that could definitely alter your scores because of the time constraints and additional information required now.  The new format does require that you list your reasons to support your differentials.  You may only list 3 differentials (before it was 5, so now you need to be more precise!), support your differentials, provide the diagnostic testings, and type it (formerly you had the choice to type or write it out).

I studied the First Aid book back and forth and practiced with my classmate a couple of times running through the H & P and writing out the patient notes.  I knew the 40 plus cases in the book very well.  I rehearsed out loud, even by myself... just to build my confidence for the actual exam day.  It was the only book I used, and it was enough to help me pass the exam.  I'm glad I will never have to take that exam again!  My classmate told me to burn  my books and notes right when it was over... I'll just keep them to remind me of one more Step exam completed... definitely something to smile about and remember on the more challenging days.  Work hard and keep reaching for your dreams!  I am so happy when I remember what it felt like to open up the email and found out I passed... well done, well done indeed!

XoX,

Marikym

P.S.  My new running shoes are amazing - more comfortable than the Nike's I tried on that day... so I was sold!  Try a pair of Saucony, it just may work for you too... the price tag was nice since I ended up getting them at Marshall's for short cash:  $34.99!  Love, love, love a good deal!

LOVE NOTE #171: Maggie Sottero Dress for Me:)

Hi Friends!

Squeal, squeal, squeal!  I received an email from Maggie Sottero this afternoon stating that I had won a wedding gown.  'Huh?  Is this a mistake?  This must be spam.' I thought.  Then another email followed shortly thereafter stating that I should refrain from sharing this news on my social media until it was published on the Maggie Sottero Facebook page in a few hours.  And sure enough, my name appeared among 10 winners out of almost 5000 entries (although they mispelled my name - Marikyn - probably for confidentiality purposes).  As you may recall, I had gushed about walking down the aisle in a Maggie, but alas, it was out of my graduate student budget.  Sometimes when you will things, they happen?  Like the time I really was craving Thai food before drifting off to sleep close to 3 a.m. - knowing I had to be all bright-eyed for the NICU in 5.5 hours, and both teary eyed, salivating, and half awake knowning that as close to good Thai food I would get would be by Googling pictures of Duck Choo Chee.  Low and behold, that day I went in for rotations, one of the neonatologists brought in Thai food for lunch... a whole table of deliciousness, including desserts!  Is this the same thing, remember my rant in LOVE NOTE #169?!  Now what will I do with all those pretty floral appliques?!

I'm a total believer in positive thinking, but perhaps the story I totally forgot that I had submitted a few months back in the "Love How YOU Fit" contest had more to do with fulfilling my dreams of being a MAGGIE BRIDE than my actual wishful thinking.  I love looking through the wedding dresses at the Maggie Sottero website every so often and they happened to have a contest the day I visited so I decided to enter and write a story, why not.  That I-have-nothing-to-lose attitude just won me a gorgeous wedding dress and I too get to be a future MAGGIE BRIDE!  Not only will I get a to choose a Maggie Sottero gown of my choice, but I hope my story will inspire others to always stay positive and keep reaching for their dreams!  I'm so over the moon today and I keep pinching myself because I can't believe I won!  I will be marrying the love of my life in the dress of my dreams - I'm truly blessed and so very happy!!!!

XoX,

Marikym