Now that we’re about halfway through 2025, I thought it would be interesting to reflect on some of the new routines/products I have implemented into my life this year. Who knows– maybe my 2025 “ins” will inspire you to try new things as well.
#1: LAGREE
Y’all…. this semester I have really gotten into Lagree, and it has completely changed my outlook on fitness. Back in high school, I used to be really into going to the gym- lifting weights, progressive overload, all that stuff. Transitioning into college, I have found it so difficult to find the motivation and time to make my way to the gym. Quite frankly, it’s just gotten really boring for me.
Over winter break, when I was back home and didn’t have much to do, I tried Pilates and Lagree classes through ClassPass. Since then, I’ve been hooked. I’m lucky enough to have a studio located less than a five-minute walk from my college apartment! Naturally, I bought a monthly membership and have been attending classes religiously.
I will say… Lagree is on the more expensive side when it comes to fitness classes. However, the workouts are so worth (it in my opinion). I’ve never done anything quite like it. Lagree combines high-intensity, low-impact training into one workout. The shakes you will get during class are insane. That first class is definitely humbling- LOL. I enjoy a challenge, and no matter how difficult the class is, I always walk out of the studio feeling strong and accomplished.
Over the past few months, I have definitely noticed a difference in my body composition and overall strength. My muscles are more pronounced and toned, my flexibility has improved, and the muscle gain has made running easier as well.
My favorite thing about these classes is that every time you go in, you are bound to get a different workout. It never really gets boring! If you haven’t tried Lagree, I would HIGHLY recommend. You might just fall in love with it like I did.
#2: Weekly-ish Dinner Parties
Hosting/attending little dinner parties is the highlight of my week. Sometimes, it can feel a little lonely eating in college, especially if you are used to eating dinner with your family back at home. Additionally, college is an incredibly busy time in your life, and it can be hard to make time for social commitments. Dinner parties are a great way to solve both of those issues!
A dinner party does not always have to be some grand ordeal with five courses, caviar, wine, and the whole nine yards. Sometimes when I have a dinner party, I literally just invite one or two of my friends over. We each cook a little dish/cook together and then turn on a movie or play some cute music. It’s always a gorgeous time and a great way to unwind from the week.
If you need some dinner party inspiration I will attach some photos below of past dishes I have made with friends. There’s a range of simple meals to more complex ones.
For my 21st birthday, I wanted to have a rager but also a classier celebration (two celebrations to represent my two personality types). For the classier celebration, I opted for a small dinner party with about six of my friends. My friend Joel and I cooked two pasta dishes: he made a green poblano pasta and I made a tomato-based pasta dish. As a side, I prepared a fresh arugula salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, and balsamic glaze. For the appetizer, we opted for a super cute charcuterie board. It was so much fun and a really great way to celebrate my birthday.
Because this dinner party was more of a special occasion, I had all my friends dress up in cute, classy, cocktail attire. This really elevated the dinner party experience and made it feel like we went out to eat at a fancy little restaurant.
Like I said before, dinner parties don’t always have to be a ton of work. Sometimes I like to host in my pjs and make super simple meals. Below is an example of a dinner party I had with two of my friends where we cooked very low effort (but still delicious) food.
We were inspired by the classic ‘girl dinner’ meal: Caesar salad and french fries. We elevated the dish and tweaked it a bit by using kale instead of classic romaine lettuce and sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes for the fries. Additionally, instead of deep frying we used an air fryer to get a similar crispy effect. Overall it was a super delicious meal.
#3: Eccentric Tights
This year, I feel like I have not had the time to play with my style. School, work, volunteering, and studying for the MCAT has kept me so busy that I don’t even have time to plan cute outfits as often anymore. Fashion is such a big part of my identity, and I see clothing as a way to creatively express myself. It’s hard to put effort into keeping up with my style amid all my other commitments, so lately I have really been slacking in that department.
One thing that I have found to be an easy, low-effort way to elevate my look is by adding an eccentric pair of tights to a simple outfit. Tights are a huge confidence boost as I always feel very good about myself whenever I put on a pair. Plus, I think tights are super chic and really elevate a look if styled correctly.
Lately, I’ve been playing with colored tights and animal-print tights to turn a basic outfit into a more editorial, high-fashion look. Not only do they look really good, but they’re also pretty cheap. I thrifted my leopard-print tights from Pavement (they have never worn before), and Amazon also has great options for cute, cheap, colored tights as well.
#5: Run Clubs
Guys…. run clubs are not propaganda. The wellness girlies were right…. running is so much fun. If you want to hear my whole pitch about how I got into running and my running tips, you can read a bit about it here.
Anyways, back to run clubs. Run clubs are so much fun and a great way to meet people in your community. If your city/town doesn’t have any major run clubs, create your own! I love setting a weekly schedule with my friends and choosing a different trail/route to explore with them.
This past April I met my goal of running my first ever 10K (go Longhorn Run!). I owe part of my training dedication to my weekly run club. It’s not always easy to get out there and run. Some weeks you will feel soooo unmotivated. Having a group of people to help keep you excited and accountable is so inspiring. It truly helps you stay on track.
Go get out there!
That pretty much sums up my new 2025 routines. Like I said, a big part of my life is being consumed by the MCAT right now. Hopefully after I #ace this test in September, I can get my life back in order and start doing more things again. With that being said, I hope you enjoyed this little read and a peak into my year so far.
If you were inspired by any of my wise words of wisdom, let me know down below. Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my blog post, and I will see you very soon. Stay beautiful!
