Healthy Chicks

I have a confession: my body is changing.

In fact, to be completely honest, it has been changing ever since I reached my upper 20s. I think for a while I resisted that because I didn’t want it to change. I didn’t want me to change. I was scared of the change.

While I thought all of the body insecurity stuff was far behind me, a part of me was super envious of the body I had at 18, 20, 23. Yes, my thighs were thick but at least I had my super flat & toned belly to fall back on. That was my “thing.” It makes me sad to look back to my 18-year-old radiant self to a girl who still thought she wasn’t “good enough.”

Now at 29, my tummy is getting much rounder, and I have little belly dimples. I can “squish” my love handles, and my weight fluctuates with the seasons (sometimes up to 10 pounds!) My thighs have — gasp! — cellulite.

I am now slowly but surely learning to be OK with this — embracing the change, but most importantly my body.

While some days are easier than others, I realize I have a … Read More!

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!

Self care is one of my utmost favorite topics. In fact, last week I got to spend the evening with the lovely folks at Suffolk University chatting all about self-care for college students!

After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup. (You gotta fill yours first!) With that said, I wanted to share some of my favorite self-care tips for the fall season so you can start practicing too!

1.) Set your Fall intention: Make it bold. Make it about you. How do you want to FEEL this season?

2.) Journal It Out: Take time to journal, especially in the morning. One of my favorite exercises is morning pages, where you free write and let it out on the page. Don’t try to edit or make it “look” a certain way; just write what’s in your heart.

3.) Let go of Negativity + Clutter: Donate clothes that no longer fit you, store away your summer wear to make room for fall apparel, and remove yourself from relationships + situations that are bringing negativity into your life. It’s time for new beginnings!

4.) Spend time in Nature: Do it, daily. Take a fall foliage hike (while you … Read More!

I love everything about fall, especially the fact that pumpkin pretty much goes with everything these days. Now that the weather is getting crisp, healthy comfort meals have pretty much become a staple in our home.

Last night, I experimented with Trader Joe’s new Autumnal Harvest Pasta Sauce to create this savory, heart-warming fall dish. Made with pumpkin, butternut squash, carrot, fall spices & some cream, this sauce embodied everything the season has to offer. Go ahead, give it a go!

Autumn Pasta with Turkey Harvest Meat Sauce

serves 6-8

• 1 box gluten free pasta (brown rice or quinoa)
• 1 package turkey burger
• 1 bag fresh or frozen organic spinach
• 1 container Trader Joe’s Autumnal Harvest Pasta Sauce
• nutritional yeast, optional for seasoning

Cook pasta according to directions, being careful not to over-cook. In the meantime, cook the turkey burger in a large frying pan with a little olive oil. Once cooked through, add in the sauce and spinach. Combine with pasta, and serve with a dash of nutritional yeast on top.

… 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!