So let’s meet the author shall we?
Who am I?
My name is Rena, and I am 23 years old. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in April 2018 with my Doctorate in Pharmacy. I guess you could say both my professional and personal lives revolve around health and wellness.
I live with my boyfriend Robert, and we have a Standard Poodle named Trigger. Trigger’s favorite toy is lamb chop, and he brings it to bed with him every night.
I might be a “doctor” but I am still very much still figuring out my life. I am adventurous and love trying new things, but at the same time I do find value in sticking to staples.
What?
This blog is all about food, fitness, and fashion.
F O O D
I have always had the biggest sweet tooth, but I also can never turn down some steamed broccoli (Just add a dash of salt and some olive oil – YUM!).
My favorite food is ice cream. Hands down. I can eat ice cream any time, any day. Favorite flavor varies though. Dulce de leche is awesome with some pretzels. Cookies n cream was my all-time favorite growing up. But also sometimes vanilla is the best. Take-away message: talk ice cream with me and we’ll be friends.
F I T N E S S
Fitness and general health and wellness have been very important in my life since an early age.
I began running in the 7th grade and was blessed to have the opportunity to run at the collegiate level before being sidelined by a knee injury. I have always had a lot of energy and curiosity and have channeled these into exploring new activities when possible. I played lacrosse my senior year of high school, and in college, I started learning Shotokan Karate, took a Jiu Jitsu class, joined the club Equestrian team, walked onto the D1 Cross Country/Track & Field team.
As a health professional, I see the issues with a sedentary lifestyle every single day. And, it honestly just breaks my heart. Health has always been a big part of my life and a passion of mine, but seeing the converse side is very eye-opening. So many patients of mine have Type 2 Diabetes, and I see their struggles with bills, copays, and honestly the excruciating nerve pain associated with the diabetes.
Medications are not cheap, and insulin is not cheap. Without a premium insurance plan or any insurance at all can have you easily spending hundreds of dollars a month in order to stay healthy. Of course not everyone has preventable diseases and conditions, but that just makes it that much more important to help those that could prevent such issues with lifestyle changes.
F A S H I O N
Comfort. Practicality. And Style.
I love fashion, and I firmly believe in Yves Saint Laurent’s quote “Fashions fade, but style is eternal”.
However, I do not believe that you need to suffer to look good. I believe in COMFORT. What is the point of an outfit if you can only tolerate to be in it for an hour or two? You should not have to sacrifice your left toe or the top layer of your skin in order to look good.
For me, this is particularly important because I work 13 hours at a time in the pharmacy. Yes, I am standing that entire time, and no, I do not get a lunch break. And, you’d better bet that most of those hours are spent running around.
Yet, I am in a white coat and must be professionally dressed. No sweats or scrubs (much to my chagrin as all the techs are in scrubs!) for me. SHOES are huge for me, because no matter what I am wearing by hour 13 (or really 14 or 15 if things are behind or I get there early to catch up) my feet are going to be screaming, so I have to find options that will work for me.
I was voted “Best Dressed”, and I still hold on dearly to that accomplishment haha. My style is all over the place. Friends have described my style as edgy, preppy, and sporty all in one.
I believe that anything and everything is possible if you believe in yourself, never give up trying, and work hard until you get there. Nothing is impossible- you just have to reach for it!
And, this website is where it all comes together!
*Check out my “personal” category to learn more about me! http://renalina.com/category/personal/
P.S. Say hello to baby me. Or like 4 year old me. On a pony.
