Lifestyle

Friday Favorites: On Cheese, Cash, Running Sticks and More

3 Comments / Lifestyle /

this girl knows how to rock the flower-in-the-hair look

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Happy Friday! I hope everyone had a great week. I know first hand that sometimes the work week can get kinda stressful (OK, reeallllyyyyy stressful), so let’s take a moment of silence to just breathe. Ahhhh… doesn’t that feel a little better? OK, enough of my corniness, but in all seriousness we need to remember to not take life too seriously and take little moments to just breathe in & out. Well, since it’s Friday you know what that means…time for my Friday favorites. Here goes:

The Stick: This bad boy saved me after my 13.1-mile half marathon on Sunday. In addition to reducing muscle soreness & stiffness (which I had plenty of), it also increases flexibility, improves strength, nurtures your muscles and speeds up recovery time. I recommend all of you ladies who run often to invest in one of these. You can purchase one for just $27.45 on Amazon.com now!

Muenster Cheese: Ever since I ate a Chicken & Muenster cheese sandwich at Serendipity in New York City, I have been daydreaming about muenster. I just HAD to pick some up at Trader Joe’s today … Read More!

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Pre Bedtime Thoughts: On Being Mindful

2 Comments / Lifestyle /

I’ve come to realize the other day that while we are all in very different places in our lives, we have one thing in common: we tend to question ourselves from time to time. I constantly hear women -from strangers on the train to close friends – chatting about their life choices every day. What am I going to be when I “grow up?”…Am I making enough money?…Am I doing what I really want to do? Am I getting the most out of my life? Am I happy in my relationship? Why am I a college graduate without a “real job?” Is this really worth it? When will everything fall into place? Should I go forth with this business decision?

I myself tend to question my life choices…nearly every day. There’s always something on my mind whether it’s regarding my relationship, family, future or lack-there-of a full time job. Yesterday, I shared these feelings with my blogger pal/relationship expert Jen over at Blonde Bronzed Twenty Something, and what she said really stuck. She was explaining to me how she in the process of paying A LOT of hard-earned money on an unfortunate car issue, and that her temp job … Read More!

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Hump Day Lesson of the Day: Go Ahead and Drink that Glass of Wine

3 Comments / Lifestyle /

Seriously. They say a glass of red wine a day is good for you, so go ahead and slurp up my friend. I am a firm believer that a glass of wine can really do the trick when you’re having “one of those days.” It’s just the right amount to get you feeling good, relaxed and maybe even a little bit giddy. I’m not saying to drink the whole bottle, but a glass or two after dinner is perfectly OK in my book. The other night I enjoyed a glass of merlot to relax my body (and sore half-marathon muscles) and it was just what I needed!

If you’re a wine-love like me, then you MUST check out Boston Event Guide’s Spring Wine Fest on Saturday, April 30th. Grab a few of your best friends and enjoy some tasty eats, wine and chit-chat. Really, is there anything better than wine & cheese? Tickets are on sale $49 to $59 until this Friday, so hurry up if you want in!

XoXo,


… Read More!

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A Song I Simply Can’t Stop Listening To…

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Sorry I didn’t post a “real” blog today. It’s been a hectic week between starting my job at the cafe, attempting to build my parent’s salon website and finishing up training for my big half marathon that is THIS WEEKEND! While I can’t grace you with a long, insightful blog post today, I do have a song for you at least. Forgive me? Please…with a cherry on top.

They keep playing this little gem at the cafe and it’s one of the only things that gets me through the non-fat-one pump-caramel-triple-latte stress. Press play & enjoy…

Lovin’ this jam? Download it on Amazon.com for just $0.99 cents! … Read More!

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Tuesday Talk: The Power of Motivation

2 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

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Motivation. By dictionary definition is means the desire to do; interest or drive. But to me, it means much more. I’ve been thinking a lot about motivation, and the act of getting yourself motivated, these past few days. After all, it is quite the powerful force.

Motivation is what gets you out of bed in the morning even when you want to crawl back into your cave and sleep forever. Motivation is the thing that helps you go that extra mile while running even when your legs feel like JELL-O and you just want to stop. Motivation helps drive you to take that extra plunge, take a chance and fight to the finish to reach your dreams.

And what better coach than yourself to help motivate you to get what you want out of life? This week motivation has taken me far. I motivated myself to stop crying and feeling sorry for myself, and rather score a part time job at an adorable little cafe. So what if it’s not my dream job in a magazine agency, but it’s a start. I motivated myself to run 10 miles a few days ago in preparation for my half … Read More!

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28 Things To Smile About Right Now

1 Comment / Lifestyle /

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I think we could all use an extra smile every now and then…particularly lately. There’s just something about this month that has put me – and many people I’ve been talking to – into a major funk. So since it’s the 28th and this long month is almost over, I’ve put together a list of 28 things to smile about right now. It sure has got me feeling all warm & fuzzy inside. Enjoy!

1. European-style cafes – they are just so quaint & classy

2. The joy you get from a simple hug

3. Family dinners

4. Temps are starting to hit 50s & 60s…bye-bye teens!

5. Freshly brewed tea…the kind where you can see the petals, herbs and whatever else they put in there

6. Free re-fils

7. Sunshine – it gives you an excuse to wear your aviators everywhere

8. The simplicity of T-shirts & jeans

9. A good ol’ competitive game of Cranium with the crew

10. Spring-y scarves with flowers & bright colors

11. Purple nail polish

12. A long, much-needed chat with an old friend

13. Finding a lucky penny on the ground…and really believing in it

14. Spring-esque candles like … Read More!

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Friday Faves and 10 Miles!

5 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Happy Friday lovely readers! Hope everyone has some phenomenal events planned for the weekend. As for me, I’m heading up to our condo in NH with the fam and The Boy for a little R & R. I absolutely can’t wait…NH retreats are the absolute best.

I also have some more great news in the home front: I ran my first ever 10 miles this morning, and not only did I survive, but it felt absolutely amazing. I won’t lie; there were points I just wanted to STOP but I kept telling myself, “You Can Do It”… “Only 5 more!”… “Only 3 more” and then suddenly I was done. It amazes me that just two years ago I could barely run 3 miles. I actually bawled my eyes out during my first 5K that I ran with my dad, and now look at me. I’m like Ms. Running Machine! This just goes to show that anyone can do what they set their mind to do…you just have to work at it and stay with it.

Anywho, it’s Friday so it’s that time again for FRIDAY FAVES:

My Forerunner 305 Garmin: I made the purchase for this bad ass GPS watch … Read More!

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The Breaking Point: What to Do When You Think You Hit Rock Bottom

37 Comments / Lifestyle /

usually I’m a pretty happy girl, but yesterday I hit my breaking point…

When I graduated college two years ago, I always dreamed I’d move to NYC, score an incredible magazine job and live the city life. Once I realized that a.) the economy is looking rather rough and b.) NYC is freakin’ expensive, my ideal future slowly changed. So I moved to Boston, worked a front desk job at a gym to make money, and then dabbled in the corporate world for a bit. I soon realized that a.) A 9 to 5 desk job just isn’t cut out for me. I like people and talking far too much and b.) Money can’t buy me happiness.

So, I quit my job as a Content Manager and filled my time with doing “Rachel” things. I starting writing in my blog every single day, bought my own domain, self-published a recipe book, made some new friends, scored a pretty sweet boyfriend, picked up a few freelance writing gigs, and explored the city of Boston in my spare time. I guess you could say I’m one of the most active “unemployed” people you’ll ever come across. I never just sit at … Read More!

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Friday Faves: Sunshine, Juice, Being Taken and More

2 Comments / Lifestyle /

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you all had a happy, perky, beautiful, sunshiney week. Anywho, since it’s Friday it’s time for my weekly Friday faves. Take a peak of what I’ve been lovin’ this week:

Sunshine: As you know I’ve been in Miami since Sunday night, and the sunshine hasn’t stopped since I got here. It’s amazing what a little sunshine can do for my mood. Hellloooo Vitamin D. Not to mention what it’s done to my coloring. No more pasty white. Maybe now I’ll match my boyfriend a little better?

Palm Trees: Palm trees make me happy and, well, they are everywhere. Enough said.

Juice: I’m on a fresh juice kick this week. I just can’t get enough of it. It’s the perfect way to start your day, and makes for the ultimate afternoon perk-me-up! Yesterday I ordered an “ABC” with dinner: Apple, Beet, and Carrot. YUM.

Last-Minute Plans: Sometimes last minute plans are the best plans. I wasn’t planning on going to Miami until a few days before I left, and boy am I glad I went with my gut instincts! I got so spend some time in the sun, and spend lots of girl time with my best … Read More!

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Why Nutella is Worth it: On Enjoying Every Little Bite and Listening to Your Body

2 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

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We listen to our heart…Why not listen to our body?

As I’ve talked about many times on my blog, my summer trip to Italy about four years ago was one of the happiest times of my life. Before Italy, I used to fear food. I thought it was an evil substance that would make my thighs even bigger, my pants even tighter and the number go up, up, up on the scale. To put it simply, throughout college, food (and calories) was all I thought about. I wasn’t ever able to enjoy food because I was too busy calculating calories, planning out my “meals” and exercising my little butt off. It was unhealthy. Now I adore food. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside, and I love trying out new restaurants and exploring decadent flavors I’ve never explored before. Now I am happy, though it took a long time to get there.

When I went to Italy, the country made it difficult for me not to enjoy food. Everything looked oh so fresh,  beautiful and mouth-watering. So I ate. I ate it all. The fresh-baked breads from the corner cafe that you could smell from … Read More!

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