Healthy Chicks

It’s officially holiday season, and I put together a little gift guide including some of my favorite holiday gifts for families — featuring mindful kids, moms and even your littlest yogis. Enjoy!

Note: Includes affiliate, where I earn a small commission on some purchases.

Gifts for Mindful Kids

Mindfulness cards, books, breathing tools & more!

(1) “Mindful & Magical Me” Kids Inspiration Deck by yours truly 

(2) Subscription to Highlights magazine (our kiddos love it)

(3) “Everyday Mindful Mantras for Minis” by Erin Marrazzo

(4) Calm Strips for sensory breathing & calm 

(5) “On the Nature Trail” Nature Activity Book 

(6) Hand2Mind Mindful Maze Set (we take these on all of our road trips)

Gifts for Mindful Mamas

Feel good gifts for moms craving a little wellness, self-care & mindfulness

(1) Spark Your Bliss affirmation card deck be yours truly

(2) “Moon Juice” by Molly Alesch (a sweet story about mama and the magic of the moon)

(3) “Dear Mama, You are Enough” Print by yours truly (scoop it up at a holiday market or grab the 4-pack bundle with kids prints too!)

(4) “The Little Frog’s Guide to Self-Care,” … Read More!

Did you SEE the news?

This mama was featured on Great Day at 9a local CT news Monday chatting mindfulness tips & yoga poses for families! I had such a great morning sharing my work and greatest passion with the lovely Nicole Nalepa and Scot Haney.

During the segment, we covered:  

• the benefits of mindfulness exercises for all
• slowing down and tuning in with flower breathing
• kids yoga: mountain pose, tree pose & windmill pose for Earth Day
• creating a sensory snack picnic outside in nature

Catch the replay here, and keep shining bright! Want more mindfulness? Take a peek at the “Mindful & Magical Me” Kids Inspiration Deck. … Read More!

In my kids yoga classes, I’m always encouraging children to shine bright like a star — to be themselves AND to be proud to be themselves. This concept typically comes natural to children…it’s innately in them…in all of us.

But do you notice as adults, sometimes we dim our light? Whether it’s to make others feel more comfortable, fear of rejection or embarrassment, or not wanting to “be too much,” sometimes it’s easier to hide or turn our light wayyy down low.

Sound familiar? I used to do this too. In fact, I’d get jealous of other women shining in their full power and thought that if I did that, others wouldn’t get me…or I’d lose friends…or people in my industry would “copy” me or the list goes on and on.

A couple years ago I had this vision which shifted the way I think, a vision I’ll never forget. I was standing in a circle with the other women holding a torch…and everyone else had a candle. When I went around the circle to light everyone’s candle, it didn’t burn out. In fact, my torch only kept growing brighter and brighter and brighter (as did everyone else’s).

That’s the … Read More!

Between busy back-to-school schedules and everyday life chaos, you may be craving a sense of calm in your life now more than ever. And even amidst the chaos (think: toddler tantrums and endless piles of laundry), it’s still possible to enjoy a moment of peace and quiet — seriously, I mean it. 

Sound too good to be true? Here are four simple ways to slow down and embrace the moment this fall (with your kiddos). 

1. Practice Positive Affirmations

Affirmations are a wonderful tool to instill self-love and confidence, and it’s never too early to start practicing with your littles. You can start by reciting simple “I Am” affirmations like “I am brave.” Grab the “Mindful & Magical Me” Kids Inspiration Deck for more kid-friendly prompts.

2. Start a Family Gratitude Jar

There’s no better way to appreciate the now than by practicing gratitude. Get the whole family involved by keeping a gratitude jar — where each family member writes down one thing they’re grateful for at the end of the day and pops it into the jar. This is such a wonderful way to honor all the blessings in your life while making room for more … Read More!

Whether you love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day comes once a year.

In all honesty, this holiday used to kind of annoy me. All the posts, all the pressure, all the “stuff.” Often I’d end up frustrated at my husband for not doing anything “special.”

At the end of the day, what I really wanted — what I needed — was the same thing I want on any other day — time together.

That’s why last year I decided to create our own Valentine’s Day tradition. Seeing as though my love language is quality time (and words of affirmation), I took matters into my own hands by creating a new tradition we can do together as a family: heart-shaped pizza.

This year, we poured red wine and listened to classic oldies love songs while making homemade heart-shaped pizza.

The kids tried to help but mostly ended up just eating all the cheese and bickering with each other. It was perfectly imperfect. It was us.

Here’s your reminder to take the pressure off this holiday (and any holiday for that matter) and do what feels good to you whether that’s doing nothing, making heart-shaped pizza or going all out … Read More!

I haven’t been as active on social media lately, as I’ve been doing a lot of reflection, planning and living. I even took over a month off Instagram to unplug, which felt good — exactly what my soul needed to recharge.

It’s also given me some time to reflect on what I want to call in for 2023. At the beginning of each year, I always choose three words I want to embody. This year I landed on: play, presence and purpose.

PLAY: Playing more with my kids, getting messy, having FUN and building my kids yoga business (which the very core is about mindfulness, movement and yes, play)

PRESENCE: Being more present with my family, focusing on one thing at a time, unplugging more often to be in the here & now

PURPOSE: Making a difference, living & working with purpose and also being purposeful with how I spend my time.

Do you choose a word(s)? I’d love to hear yours below! … Read More!

Baby it’s cold outside, and while I highly dislike being cold, I don’t like stuck, stagnant energy even more. Feeling in a winter slump? Here are 5 quick ways to shift your energy this season!

1. Brisk Walk Outside

Get outside for a brisk walk in the cold! Soak in the sunshine and breathe in that fresh winter air.

2. Meditate Over Coffee

Pour yourself a hot cup of coffee, tea or cocoa and spend a few minutes in meditation. As you sip your drink, think of how you want to feel and set an intention for your day!

3. Holiday Dance Party

Pop on those holiday jams and shake it out! Dancing is a wonderful way to move stagnant energy through the body.

4. Freshen up Your Wardrobe

Give your winter wardrobe a seasonal refresh by purchasing a new item that feels good (and while you’re at it, toss something old that doesn’t feel good).

5. Play in the Snow

Play outside in the snow! Embrace your inner child by building a snowman, make a snow angel, or catch snowflakes on your tongue. … Read More!

I went away on a women’s spiritual/business retreat two weekends ago, which was truly transformational and life-changing. It’s hard to put into words exactly what I experienced while there, but I will try.

Before I embarked on this journey, I asked for clarity and boy did I get it. On the first day, while sitting in a field amongst 75 women in ceremony, I had a major a-ha moment. We were in a deep guided meditation, where I was shown different versions of ME standing in a cave — literally every version of my former self flashed upon my eyes (the me struggling with body image, getting my footing in Boston, going off to college) but the central focus was on 5-year-old Rachel, me as a child.

An old, wise woman then came into the cave and brought us all together for a nurturing motherly hug, then grabbed my hand and whispered into my ear, “You are meant to be working with children,” then she turned back and said “Remember, never lose your sparkle.”

After those words were spoken, a light lit up within me. I visualized myself surrounded by children, animals and magic. I saw dolphins dancing in the … Read More!