There is nothing like having a few gym buddies to make your workout a little brighter! I am so happy to see that my healthy lifestyle has encouraged my classmates to take a break from studio to take care of their health.

A group of 8 of us have a small positive reinforcement group to go to the gym. We share workouts. We encourage eachother not to give up. We make the trip there and back enjoyable.

As a group we have only made it a couple of times. But individually I am sure that we have gone more than before. Having the group chat is really helpful in reinforcing the importance of going regularly or at least being active and outside studio regularly.

And while I don’t have any photos of them yet I can’t wait to catch them in action! 😉 Be on the lookout for glo ups soon!

While no one likes going to the doctor getting an annual check up is really important. My last check up was roughly in October. I went in for my check up this year at about the same time.

While there I learned a few wonderful things!

• If you have a medical emergency call Penn Health first! They have an on call doctor 24/7 who can help diagnose your problem and advise you whether to go to the hospital or come to them the next day. This is super helpful as an ambulance and emergency room expenses are outrageous! Really only go if it is life or death!!
• If you need second appointments the scheduling desk can arrange it for you. In some cases the appointments can be made same day (usually only if you are already there and had a previous appointment)! Otherwise check a month in advance to schedule appointments. I have always found they dissapear quickly online.
• Flu Shots are super important. Often your email will contain reminders for the dates and times for the Flu Shot Drive. This is a FREE event so no excuses! I went this year and it took all of 5 minutes to sign the paperwork, move through the line, and get the shot.

Overall my annual visit to Penn Health has always been pleasant. Service is quick, the nurses and doctors are friendly, and the process is easy. If you are ever concerned or need health help definitely go to Penn Health.

In terms of health the Penn Health really does cover everything you could be concerned about under one roof. I went from my check up to the blood work station to the nutrioninst all in one morning in one place. I really appreciate the ability to do that. It makes addressing any concerns you or your physician may have in the moment so that you can really work on it immediatly.

In my case I learned a few additional ways to supplement my diet with key nutrients without taking pills and tablets. I also was encouraged to continue my excercise routine, the weight lifting portion, to help overall with body and bone strength.

While my own improvements are encouraging, seeing how my lifestyle has inspired and encouraged my classmates to change theres is even more encouraging. At last I have lured my classmates into the gym! I am super excited to have friends who are also possible long term gym buddies!

Even with a busy semester I have found some time to expand my garden! The cherry tomatoes are blossoming, my daisies and african voilets are continally flowering, and my succulents keep sprouting new succulents. I have even tested planting strawberries.

As with every garden I have run into my troubles with watering schedules and pests. But the spider mites and wilting leaves will not deter me. Each time I learn something new and get a little more excited about adding to my garden.

There is an empty pot waiting in anticipation for my next set of plants. I am thinking bell peppers, spinach, and maybe some herbs (basil, rosemary, parsely). There are so many edible plants which it would be a dream to have at the ready. All that is left is the study of kitchen gardens and their evolution to apartment window ledges.

Gnocchi (Noquis) night is a wonderful time to practice a tradition for good fortune. I only missed one gnocchi night this semester but all the others have been a success! It is always wonderful to gather people together to cook and share a meal.

It is amusing to see everyone attentive to pasta, competing to get the form right. I appreciate more how much practice I have in making it and how much progress I make everytime I host. Once cooked the gnocchi doesn’t last and what little is left brings smiles the next day as everyone leaves with a light lunch.

I am happy to be able to celebrate the tradition of gnocchi day and bring smiles to my friends faces all while getting a little extra cooking practice!

Til the next 29th!

Meal prepping is not as easy as I expected. It seems simple. Make a lot of food, maybe two different kinds, prepack it into lunch containers and eat on rotation. Save yourself the hassle of cooking every day and the money otherwise spent on eating out.

But sometimes I make too much food and can’t eat it all within the week. Sometimes I don’t make enough and suddenly need to cook again or order out. Sometimes I get tired of what I cooked and don’t want to eat it for the fifth time (but still do).

Meal prepping definitely takes practice just like cooking. So, for the benefits it provides to my wallet and my health I will keep practicing. While I may not have my weekly prepping down yet I have certainly improved my cooking skills with all the practice! It is so exciting and liberating to be this confident in the kitchen!

Here is a small sample of this semesters progress in the kitchen: