Goodbye 2024 and helloooo 2025! It feels so weird to say that out loud- or on keyboard I should say. This year was an eventful one full of laughter, love, tears, growth, and prosperity. With each year etched as a tally mark on the metaphorical wall that represents my life, I become more and more grateful to be alive. This world has so much love and light to offer, and I’m so happy to be in it. With that being said, I’m going to do a recap of some of the moments that helped me grow and appreciate life. Maybe this recap will inspire you to try new things in 2025!
#1: Started my blog!
The very first thing I did back in January was start this website you are reading off of right now! I do have to admit that I have not posted or written as much as I would have liked over the past year. During my winter break last year I was very committed to consistently put out good quality content, but since school started back up and I began working two jobs, it has been so hard to make the time to write/journal/blog/create content. Moving forward into 2025 I want to dedicate more time to making posts on here. I’ve always loved creating content and sharing my life, opinions, thoughts, and so forth with the world, so I am really going to try and hold myself accountable.
#2: Left my teenage years behind (turned 20)!
This year I hit a huge milestone for younger Diana- I left my teenage years behind. I remember turning thirteen and imagining myself in the future. Turning twenty, BEING twenty, sounded so old and official because it meant no longer being a teenager. It felt so grown up to hear people talk about being in their twenties. I always thought that I would have my entire life figured out as soon as I entered that decade in my life. Safe to say I was being severely over dramatic.
As a twenty year old girl now, I am still so young and have so much to learn and grow from in life. If I could give a younger version of myself some advice, I would tell her: 1.) It is okay to not have everything figured out yet! Life is still so brand new and you have so much to accomplish. There is no rush! Just enjoy life at your own pace. You have so much time. 2.) Being twenty is just as fun and exciting as being sixteen. You find fun in every decade of your life.
#3: I walked in my first runway show!
This was so much fun!! At my university I am a part of several fashion clubs/organizations, one of them being Hook’d Magazine. Every year Hook’d hosts a runway show that showcases designs created by university students. In April I had the unique opportunity to walk as a model for one of the designers, Jiagia Studios, created by Parth Ghawghawe. This experience was so amazing and I had a blast pretending to be a top model walking in NYFW. It was definitely a little out of my comfort zone as I was terrified to trip in front of hundreds of people in my six inch stiletto heels. Thankfully everything went smoothly and I felt like the third Hadid on that catwalk. 10/10 would do this again.
#4: Watched my little sister graduate
In June I got to see my little sister graduate, which was so emotional for me. As an older sibling, it’s hard to grasp the concept of your younger siblings growing up and hitting major milestones in their lives. She will always be four years old with botched bangs she used safety scissors to cut herself. Nevertheless, I am so proud of her and excited to see where life takes her.
#5: Experienced Italy as a diagnosed celiac for the first time
My mom and all of her family are from Italy (I am half Italian), so I have been going every summer to visit since I was born. The summer of 2023 I was officially diagnosed with celiac disease AFTER I had gotten back from my yearly trip to Italy. Summer 2023 Diana was still enjoying all the glutenous pizza, pasta, desserts, and breads that Italy is so well known for (unknowingly damaging my intestinal cells but it’s okay because at least it all tasted so good). I was so scared to visit Italy this past summer as I was unsure of how my diet would play out.
To my utmost surprise, Italy is so far advanced in the gluten free world. Because food is such a big part of Italian culture, the Italian Celiac Association (or AIC for short in Italy) has done an amazing job at making the lives celiacs living/visiting Italy so easy and enjoyable. For starters, Italian citizens/residents get a monthly stipend from the government to help them purchase gluten free foods. Secondly, there is a booklet created by the AIC that showcases every certified gluten free establishment (and establishments that have been recognized for their food safety) for EVERY region of Italy. You can find everything from gluten free grocery stores, gluten free gelaterias, gluten free bakeries, to restaurants that are safe to eat at.
The photo above shows some desserts I tried from a certified 100% gluten free bakery in the hometown where my nonna lives. Finding this bakery was so special for me because the tartlets above were always my favorites growing up as a kid. I was so happy to find out how tasty they could be made- despite being gluten free.
If you are a fellow celiac and you have concerns about traveling to Italy, I want you to rest assured that you will have no trouble finding delicious foods to indulge in.
#6: Moved into my first apartment
I’m currently a junior in college and this is my first year not living in a dorm. Having an apartment to call your own is so nice. Pictured is a view of the sunset from my room- I could not be more in love. This was another huge milestone because your first apartment is something that you remember for the rest of your life. It’s an additional step into adulthood!
Decorating was so much fun. It’s such a girl apartment and I love it so much.
#7: Got featured in magazines
Like I mentioned before, I am a part of several fashion clubs/organizations at my university, one of them being Spark Magazine. This is my first semester in this organization, and I am a part of the modeling committee. Modeling is one of my hobbies that I find so much fun. It’s kind of like theatre in a way because you get to put on a persona and pose in front of the camera.
This shoot was so much fun to execute and I really love how all the photos turned out. I hope to be able to be a part of this team again next semester!
Another magazine I got to model in was for Hook’d Magazine. This is the second issue of Hook’d I have been able to model for but this one holds a special place in my heart because I loved this team so much! The garments we were modeling were hand made by two Textile and Apparel students. That in itself is incredible. Again, I hope to have the opportunity to model in future magazines.
#8: Saw one of my favorite artists, Clairo, in concert
Words cannot describe how much I love Clairo. She is one of my favorite artists and getting to see her in concert with my friends was unreal. This was kind of a spur of the moment decision as my friends and I all bought tickets to this concert like the day before. We all needed a break from our school work and studying, and this was the best way to unwind.
Clairo’s voice is so angelic and it truly healed something inside of me. This was one of the best concerts I have ever been to and one of the best days of my Fall semester. I will cherish this night forever.
#9: Enjoyed an “all expenses paid for” 5 star meal
There was a new restaurant in Austin, Texas that opened up called Jupiter Supper Club that is completely plant based and has so many gluten free options on the menu. One of my friends had to ‘in’ and got us a table at their soft opening where we had the opportunity to try out their entire menu for FREE. Now, as a college student this is a huge deal. We are never passing up a free meal. Everything was so delicious and luxurious. The restaurant itself is beautiful and decorated with so much thought.
My friends and I dressed up and walked around down town Austin feeling like true A-list celebrities after our free five star meal. Definitely worth failing my biochem quiz the next day. Everything in moderation, right?
#10: Hosted a 100% gluten free friendsgiving
Let me start off by saying how much I love my friends. This Thanksgiving, I had the dream of hosting a friendsgiving with a huge group of people full of gluten free Thanksgiving foods that I miss eating. I invited 25 of my friends over to my college apartment and we had a huge potluck style feast. The best part? Everything was safe for me to eat. Some highlights of the foods that were made and brought go as follows: sushi bake, pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, fresh baked bread, TWO turkeys, creamed corn, sweet potato casserole, the list goes on.
All the food was so delicious and I had so much fun hosting all of my friends.
To a wonderful 2024…
There are so many more events and days I could write and highlight, but I think 10 is a nice, even number so I will leave it at that.
All in all I had a truly wonderful 2024 and I am so excited to see what 2025 has in store for me. See you all in the new year!
Love this blog honey!
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