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Thursday, January 29, 2015

Half-Marathon Update!

Originally, my dad and I were planning on running a half-marathon in Liverpool. Since our plans have changed a little, we will instead be running it...



... on the Isle of Skye in Scotland!

The course is quite hilly (as you can probably imagine from the picture), but boasts some of the best views of the Scottish countryside.

Here's a picture of the town that the race starts and ends in.


Now I just have to get through this semester... and train I guess ;)


Gina

Monday, January 26, 2015

Training Progress

I've officially been training for my half-marathon for a week! Managing to stick to a schedule has been a huge plus. Not only am I learning to make more time to run, but it's become a lot more enjoyable and I seem to be able to run 3 miles pretty easily now.

While I'm not one of those people with a ton of cool or nice workout gear, I do value my Mizuno running shoes. They're extra comfortable, and I've been a big fan of Mizuno brand anything from all my years of playing volleyball!


Mine are an older version of these and are turquoise and purple (two of my favorite colors!).


This weekend was so busy that all I want to do tonight is exactly what this French bulldog is doing below...


Wishing everyone a great week!

Gina


Thursday, January 22, 2015

Turning a New Leaf in College

Today, one of my close friends posted on Facebook a quote I said freshman year via Timehop (not going to lie, I'm not really sure what Timehop is or how it works, so yeah). After reading the quote, I was pretty shocked. Since I'm not feeling the best about what I said, I'm not going to post it here but the gist was a very pessimistic view of the state of the environment. 

Sure, I'm still a bit pessimistic about the environment and the fate we as humans are pushing it toward, but I realized how much I've grown in the past three years at Creighton after rereading the quote. 

For starters, this friend and I were acquaintances (at best) this time freshman year. We had just become sisters through Kappa Kappa Gamma, but her closeness to my roommate is what spurred our frequent interactions. Three years later, she is one of my closest friends. We've both done a lot of growing up along the way, but our friendship still amazes me because of how unlikely I believed it to be from the start. 

Another aspect of growth I've seen in myself are my beliefs. While back then, I didn't really care about the environment, I've now made sure to fulfill my duty, recycling when I can and making sure to turn the lights off in my apartment when I leave. The little things can actually add up to make a difference, something I never would have believed when I was a freshman. Maybe going to a liberal arts school got to me or maybe I just surround myself with people who are passionate about bettering the world. Regardless, both factors have changed me for the better, shaping my views and challenging my beliefs. Being at Creighton has continually forced me to open my mind to new possibilities and ways of thinking. 

For those who have known me since freshman year or even before college, I've always had the same personality: quiet, smart, and intensely loyal. But something new that I see in myself, a trait I've grown into that I lacked before, is confidence. Now, I don't mean confidence in the sense of feeling prepared for a test or feeling ready to take on a leadership role in an extracurricular activity. 

No, I mean confidence in the sense that I know who I am, who I want to be, and the impact I want to make. 

I don't worry about what people may say about me, because I know I have friends and family who will protect me and stand with me through anything. 

I don't have to prove my beauty through my physical appearance because I wear my heart on my sleeve and exhibit what inner beauty is through my actions. 

Merriam-Webster defines confidence as, "a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something." Well, you know what that "something" is I do well? What I succeed at?

Life. Laughing. Being a loving, caring person. 

Being ME

Now, you all deserve a big thank you and round of applause. Because of you, I am able to be me without fear or apprehension. I don't have to worry about being rejected because I may not be the most gung-ho person when it comes to saving the environment. You challenge me to be the best version of me every day. You inspire me to know myself, be myself, and accept myself. You allow me to grow. For that, I am forever grateful. 


...And on a completely different note, tomorrow is going to be a wonderful day because I'm going on a steak crawl. Free steak? YES, PLEASE.


Gina

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Owls, Keys, and the Fleur-de-lis

Recruitment is over and the ladies of Creighton Kappa finally have new members! We love all 53 of them so so much! 

Here are some of my favorite pictures from this week filled with Kappa love :)







Gina

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Back to School

For those of you who don't know, I'm currently going through recruitment for my sorority. It's so exciting, but extremely exhausting at the same time (12 straight hours of chatting and cheering). I still can't believe we had 11 parties yesterday and 10 today!

I love meeting girls who are looking forward to joining a new sisterhood and finding that place to call a home away from home, but my favorite aspect of recruitment is actually getting to spend all my time with my sisters. I know that probably sounds cheesy, but my closest friends are all Kappas so it's actually really enjoyable to bond over little things we don't usually think about, like what fast food we need to break up all the healthy eating or whether our philanthropy t-shirt looks better tucked in or untucked. 

Tomorrow is the first day of my second semester of senior year (ok, where has the time gone?), but I'm still caught up thinking about how my whole Kappa family is finally back together again in the same city! Plus, how can I possibly think of school when I'm so excited to welcome girls to Kappa on Saturday?!




Gina

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Bookworm

As I previously mentioned, I got a few books for Christmas that I'm very excited to delve into! I also finished a few more recently, so all will be shared with you!


Books Read Last Semester:

The Seasons of Rome - Paul Hofmann
If you have ever visited, lived in, or fallen in love with Rome, this book is definitely for you! Hofmann writes about his daily life in Rome during the 1990s, describing incidents scarily similar to ones that still occur today (even though it's been 20 years, there is still no Roman bus schedule).

The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion
Combine a socially inept genetics professor with a wild young woman named Rosie who's on the hunt for her biological father, and you've got yourself quite a story. I was recommended this book because Don (the professor) expresses behavioral oddities commonly seen in those on the autism spectrum; since I'm pre-occupational therapy, this book really sparked my interest early on. The way the relationships develop in this book are pretty weird, but that just made it even more hilarious!

What Alice Forgot - Liane Moriarty
After a fictional woman named Alice takes a fall at the gym, she forgets the last decade of her life and doesn't understand anything that seems to be going on in her current 39-year-old life. As Alice begins to remember things, her personality continually flip-flops. Not only did I find this book interesting due to Alice's amnesia (another OT thing), but it was also mind-opening to see how ten years can change someone's personality and view on life.


Books Received for Christmas:

The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks
Leaving Time - Jodi Picoult
Me Before You - Jojo Moyes
The Giver - Lois Lowry
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak




I can't wait to dive into my new collections! The last two have short chapters and are perfectly laid out for reading before bed this coming spring semester.

Have you read and loved any of my new books?


Gina

Monday, January 5, 2015

2014

Even though January 1 was a few days ago, I am still astounded by the fact that we are in 2015.

Thinking back to last year, I probably had the most wonderful year of my life. I really was blessed with amazing experiences and friendships!



I lived in Rome for the spring semester of my junior year.
In the span of four months, I fell in love with Rome and everything about the Italian way of life. I also met some wonderful people and made four friendships that will last as long as the work on the new Roman subway line (aka forever). With new friends, sunny Roman days, and weekends spent in seven different countries, I still believe nothing will come close to the pure bliss those four months were to me.



I called New York City home for a month.
Spending part of the summer in New York for an occupational therapy internship I never imagined I would get was a major highlight of the year. Not only did I learn so much about the field of OT, but I made some new friends along the way as we explored a city I've grown to love over many years. Plus, I got to spend some extra time with my grandma at her Long Island beach house on weekends.



I've grown closer to my group of friends and Kappa sisters.
Our little group of nine has amazed me this last semester. Despite being away in the spring, I felt welcomed into a group filled with inside jokes, Netflix binges, and life chats. I couldn't be happier with my friends (who all happen to be my sisters too!) and can't wait to spend a whole week in Miami with them in March!


With all of these experiences, I've grown as a person. I have a clearer idea of my hopes and goals for the next few years, but have also embraced the thought of uncertainty and welcome whatever life may bring. 

All I can say now is bring it on, 2015!

Gina

At-Home Exercising

The weather in Dallas has been nice the last couple days, but was pretty crummy previously; plus, the forecast at school for the next week looks no better (#winterstormgorgon). To accommodate my daily workout schedule, I've had to focus a lot more on exercises that can be done at home. 

Thanks to XHIT Daily, I have been able to stay in shape despite the rain and cold! In order to feel like I've had a full workout, I like to start with this warmup, then do three XHIT video workouts, and end with this stretching video (but I usually hold for less time).

Some of my favorite XHIT workouts include this one for the booty, this one for the arms, this one for legs, and this one for abs!

I always feel so good after doing these exercises, and enjoy them because there is constant variation. If you give these a try, let me know how you like them!




Gina

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Ringing in the New Year!

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's already 2015! Seriously, how did 2014 fly by so quickly? 

This winter break, a little birdie (*cough* Mom...) told me that more than a few family and friends were hoping for my return to the blogging world. Well, I've decided to do just that as one of my New Year's resolutions!

I'm usually that person who makes a few resolutions and fails to keep them (I've ridden the "I'm going to lose weight" boat more than a few times). However, this year, I've had the chance to sit back and think through what I want this year to look like for me and chosen resolutions based on those ideas.

First, I'm going to focus on eating right and adopting a healthier lifestyle. Ok, I can hear all the naysayers; sure, it hasn't worked in the past, but I think there are a few things that make it different for me this year. A few days before Christmas, I decided to start running (more on that below) and felt such a sense of accomplishment afterwards. I realized that in no way should I be focused on losing weight, but instead bringing my body to a more healthy and natural state. I've already succeeded in working out every day (except for two rest days) since then! Last semester I was really good about staying away from soda, and while I did indulge a few times, I know I can keep up that great healthy trend!

2015 will be the year I run a half-marathon. Now, I have told multiple people, "I hate running," and I will not take that statement back. I actually enjoy circuit and whole body exercises a lot more (mostly for the constant variation). But I've become inspired by my dad, who just finished a marathon last month and still claims to hate running. He was able to build up the stamina to do that, so what's holding me back from doing the same for a half? Bonus: I'll be running it in Liverpool this June while on vacation with my family!

Like the hiatus from soda-drinking, I also want to continue doing something I succeeded in doing last semester: reading for fun. Before bed most nights, I read a quick chapter in The Rosie Project or journal entry from The Seasons of Rome. It was an amazing way to forget about school and I honestly think reading right before bed helped me sleep better and feel less stressed. Reading is definitely something I want to continue doing, especially since I got a handful of books for Christmas (always the best gift!).


So with these resolutions out in the open, I wish everyone a wonderful and successful start to 2015!

Gina