Lifestyle

It’s the holiday season.

The holidays are upon us, and it’s definitely in the air! Heck, Starbucks even released their infamous holiday cups (designed by artists around the world) — and this year customers aren’t complaining!

Anyway, if you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit (and you’re local to MA), tonight’s Holiday Marketplace event at She Breathes in Walpole is for you.

Members of the community will be showcasing their homemade goods — including jewelry, art, tote bags, personal care products and a wide array of artistic treasures that make the perfect gift. And I’ll be there selling handmade body scrubs!

Important Deets
Wednesday, November 16
6:00-9:00pm
85 West Street, 2nd Floor
Walpole MA 02081

Hope to see you there!

With love,

Rachel… Read More!

Love.

Today, let’s choose love.

We need to come together, we need to unite, we need to let go of hatred and anger and shift the focus to LOVE.

I’ve seen so many mean, nasty, angry comments on my newsfeed lately (both toward people and this country) and the reality is: it’s not going to make things any better.

It’s OK to feel. It’s OK to be upset. It’s OK to be angry. But spreading anger and hatred is definitely not the answer.

Today, let’s choose love…and let’s allow that to help us rise up.

After all, “Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can.”

With love + gratitude,

Rachel… Read More!

A couple months ago, I was in the process of applying for what I thought was the part-time job of my “dreams.” It was in a cool new-to-me industry, the hours were flexible and it would be quick commute from my home.

I had a plan.

I would land said job, make a decent side income, and be able to support myself financially so I could continue to invest in my own business. It was perfect. I had it all laid out.

But then 3 interviews, one month, and no callbacks later, I decided that maybe this plan wasn’t in the cards for me after all. I got super bitter, and lots of fear started flowing through my mind. I felt frustrated, rejected, and afraid for my future.

WHY DIDN’T THEY LIKE ME?!

WHY CAN’T THEY BE DECENT HUMANS AND AT LEAST LET ME KNOW I DIDN’T GET THE JOB?

WHAT DID I DO WRONG?

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?!

While I complained & vented to my husband and close friends, they continued to reassure me that maybe the process is just taking a little longer, that not getting a call back didn’t necessarily mean that I didn’t get … Read More!

This past Saturday evening, I had the pleasure of meeting the beautiful Gabby Bernstein at her talk + booksigning in Boston for “The Universe Has Your Back.” 200+ curious souls came together at a church in Brookline to hear this wonderwoman speak.

She spoke of seeing the lesson when sh*t hits the fan, surrendering again and again, and how obstacles are really detours in the right direction. We meditated. We chanted. We cried. And then when it came time for the Q & A, something inside me said “Go ahead, get up there and ask.”

I found myself in line with about 15 other women, shaking as the church fan blew my hair. Finally, it was my turn at the microphone. It was time to get real. It was time to get vulnerable.

“Hi Gabby, I’m Rachel. A couple months ago I left a job that was no longer serving me. I had a strong voice inside me saying ‘Stop striving and seeking, and let things flow to you.’ It’s now been 3 months, and I feel like things aren’t really flowing. I’m feeling very behind. What do you advise I do?”

Her first word: Gratitude.

Gabby told … Read More!

Saying no used to scare the crap out of me. Being the people pleaser that I am, I was afraid saying no would let someone down, make me look bad or hurt someone else’s feelings.

What if they don’t like me anymore?

What if they get mad at me?

What if I miss out?

These are the kinds of thoughts that would swim through my head. Then I realized something: saying ‘no’ to the things that don’t quite serve you or light you up is actually saying YES to yourself.

Let me repeat that because it’s a biggie: Saying ‘no’ to the things that don’t serve you or light you up is actually saying YES to yourself.

Doesn’t that take the pressure off like whoa? When you look at it this way, saying no actually puts you in a place of power, control and confidence. Rather than being concerned about what other’s think of you, you step into a place of feminine confidence.

And the more you say no with purpose, the more fabulous you feel. (Trust me.)

Lately, I’ve set some boundaries for myself in order to stick to it, and make sure I don’t fall back … Read More!

August has been a whirlwind of a month for me. I joined the SheBreathes team (I’ll be teaching a Journaling Class + will be available for 1:1 health coaching), got settled into our new apartment, stood by my dear friend’s side at her wedding in Virginia, and traveled to Greece to watch my soul sister marry the love of her life sea-side in the beautiful village of Eressos.

As we prepare to transition into fall (my favorite season!) and close out the month, I wanted to share with you some of my August obsessions. Here are some things I’ve been crushing on big-time lately:

CLARY CALM ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND

Where has this been all my life? I’m absolutely in love with this essential oil blend, and use it quite often. This monthly blend for women works to keep hormones in check, and minimize those not-so-fun symptoms. During that time of the month (which also happened to be while I was traveling!), I rubbed it on my belly and on my pressure points…and NO cramps. I kid you not, this is the first time I didn’t have to take Midol for my discomfort. Lady friends, get yourself a bottle. Feel … Read More!

Do you compare yourself to other women?

For many years, I would compare myself to other women’s bodies. I was super self-conscious at the beach when I was around my skinnier friends, and would refuse to take off my shorts. How dare I reveal my “fat thighs?”

Being around my slim, beautiful friends made me feel fatter, uglier and less than, ultimately stemming from that internal feeling of not being “enough.” I remember the anxieties I’d have around getting ready to go out in college. While sometimes I’d feel “OK,” the second I walked out and saw how I sized up against my roommates, I’d feel really blah.

Spring break of senior year in Cancun was probably the lowest I’ve ever felt about myself. After a week-long Lemonade Detox stint and endless efforts to lose weight with dieting, I had reached my all-time heaviest. I hated the way I looked in a bikini, and was really embarrassed to be “seen” in front of the frat boys and sorority girls. I still vividly remember taking a picture on the beach with all my girls, as I hid behind one of my friends so my thighs wouldn’t be seen.

Why couldn’t … Read More!

Good afternoon, beautiful souls! There’s something magical about a new month, don’t you think? It paves the doorway for new beginnings and gives you a sense of “permission” that it’s OK to change paths, re-route, or heck even start over. This is especially true when the start of a month begins with a new moon like today. Where are my fellow astrology sisters out there? 😉

New moons have been known to symbolize letting go of the past, and making way for a fresh start. It’s the perfect time to set intentions, get clear about your heart’s true desires, and re-set your focus. Make sense, right?

And according to The AstroTwin’s, tonight’s new moon in Leo may actually spark your inner creative genius + give you a little confidence booster to boot. So for all my fellow creatives out there, this new moon is totally working on your side!

As I reflect upon the new moons + what I’d like to manifest in the year ahead, 3 phrases immediately come to mind: abundance, focus + vibrant feminine energy.

I’m going to take some time today to write out some affirmation cards, and then spend some time journaling … Read More!

Journaling saved my life.

“Huh?” you must be thinking. “How could a piece of pen & some paper do such a thing?”

But you see it’s far more than just simply jotting down words. Journaling is a way to express yourself, unleash creativity, pour out all the emotions, and get clear about what it is your heart truly desires.

When you think about it, many of us had our first experience with a journal during childhood — in the form of a diary. Little girls everywhere would rush home from school writing down the latest gossip, deep secrets and magical fantasies. If you’re like me, many of my entries are filled with things like “Today I have a crush on____.” “Joey didn’t talk to me on the playground today.” “She’s my BFF forever and ever and ever.”

While it may seem silly, at the time it was my little Rachel’s way of venting; it was therapeutic in a sense. After all, nothing you write in a journal is off limits.

However, it’s the journaling I deep-dived into as an adult that truly was the game-changer for me. In my early days of college, I wrote a lot about heartbreak, body … Read More!