Healthy Chicks

Happy Friday, loves! I don’t know about you, but I’m totally feelin’ those weekend vibes. Maybe it’s the fact that I wore my new hippie elephant dress for the first time today, and totally felt in my element. Anyway, it’s time to move along to this week’s feature for Healthy Chicks in the Community, a weekly series celebrating badass women doing their thang.

I’m excited to intro you to the ever so beautiful Maura, who I was lucky enough to meet at Balans Organic Spa in Boston. (If you haven’t checked it out, it’s a must…their massages are on-point!) I love Maura’s passion for what she does, and how she totally walks the talk when it comes to holistic wellness. I’ll let you see for yourself!

NAME/AGE: Maura McCartney / 25 years old

BLOG/TWITTER: Balans Lifestyle Blog

CURRENT CITY: Boston

PHOTO TAKEN (WHERE/WHEN): LA / 2015

WHAT YOU DO FOR WORK: I support individuals to lead more vibrant, fulfilling lives by optimizing health, habits and lifestyle choices. I am the nutrition and health consultant at Balans Organic Spa and Balans Wellness studio — I absolutely love it! There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing my clients blossom into healthier, more … Read More!

This past Monday officially marked the first day of summer, and I was lucky enough to ring it in with a few other bloggers for a night of fitness, shopping & dining in Chestnut Hill Square.

We started the night off with a sweaty spin sesh at SoulCycle, followed by some shopping at Athleta (where I just had to buy these crops in Tahitian Teal, don’t they just scream summer?!?) After some shopping, it was time for dinner at Seasons52, where we were wined + dined galore.

We started off with a Peach Bourbon Smash cocktail (a sneak peek from their new summer menu!), and our lovely waitress brought us a couple different flatbreads to try: Blacked Steak & Blue Cheese and Lobster & Fresh Mozzarella. Both were absolutely delicious, but the lobster one was the favorite; I think it was the lobster sour cream that really put me over the edge 😉

After the flatbreads, we moved onto a watermelon feta & heirloom tomato salad, which was oh so refreshing! Our waitress then brought out another strawberry cocktail to try, with fresh strawberries that were infused in vodka…oh my! (Time to start pacing myself!)

For my … Read More!

Crafty people inspire me. There’s something about the art of crafting that brings me back to childhood. It fills my soul with the feeling of playfulness, freedom & not taking life too seriously. So it’s no surprise that when I met Tori of kitchen + kraft, I was immediately drawn in by her playful nature. With a tagline of “rad things for mindful living,” you’ve totally got me sold 😉 I’ll let you meet Tori for yourself, and hopefully you too take a away a little inspiration!

NAME/AGE: Tori Kendrew / 25 years old

BLOG/TWITTER: kitchenandkraft.com / @kitchenandkraft

CURRENT CITY: Lynnfield, MA

PHOTO TAKEN: Last Summer on Nantucket on the way to Something Natural (only the BEST sandwich place on the island)

WHAT YOU DO FOR WORK: I own a small creative business where I do natural fabric dyeing and make mindful home and kitchen accessories. I am currently at the tail-end of a year long holistic health coaching certification course and love creating in the kitchen as well. Smoothie bowls are a specialty of mine!

NUMBER ONE PASSION: Living a healthful life

I FEEL MY HEALTHIEST SELF WHEN I AM: Finishing up a run outside or in shavasana … Read More!

Summer is in the air and on my mind lately, as it’s my absolute favorite season. These past few weeks I’ve been spending lots of time with nature including a 3-day camping trip, a couple hikes, and the first beach trip of the season! To me, that feeling of freedom and playfulness is what summer is all about.

But unfortunately, year after year right around this time we get bombarded by the “bikini body” ads and diet scare tactics. While I am so not a fan of diets, quick fixes and making women feel bad about their bodies, I do think we all want to feel our best selves during the summer (but going on a diet is not the answer).

Instead, it’s about the little things we do every day that help us feel good in our body, mind and soul — and having fun! In partnership with O.N.E. Coconut Water, I wanted to share with you my go-to summer health hacks — including a refreshing way to spruce up your margarita 😉

1. Move more. Find a workout that lights you up, and do that. Don’t think too much about the calories burned or your time; … Read More!

Yesterday, I was given the opportunity to attend “Playmaker 101” at the Life is Good Headquarters in Boston. The 3-hour workshop revolved around their kid’s foundation, and spreading the power of optimism to children who need it most.

While the morning was geared toward children, we also talked about optimism in our own lives, and how we can impact one another more positively on the day-to-day. I left feeling incredibly inspired and humbled by the experience, and wanted to share some key takeaways with you. While I took quite a bit away with me, most of all it simply made me realize that Hey, life is good.

THINK ABOUT HOW YOU SHOW UP

How do you show up when you enter a room? When we walked into the Life is Good office, Chief Playmaker, Steve Gross, immediately welcomed our group with jokes, laughter and even a fist pump. Bam. Instant comfort level, and you bet I was much more open and happy to be there than if he was cranky, rude and didn’t say hello. How do you show up? Are you warm and inviting? Are you closed off and negative? How can you focus on bringing joy when … Read More!

There’s nothing I love more than empowering women to feel their best selves & rock their confidence. Throw some obstacles, mud, and good ol’ fashioned fun into the mix and you’ve got me interested! That’s exactly what Mudderella, a women’s only mud run and obstacle course, aims to do. Designed exclusively by women and for women, Mudderella is all about celebrating strength and challenging yourself, all while having a blast with your gal pals.

I’m super excited to feature their Director of Brand & Performance, Zoe Schwartz, on the blog today. She’s pretty bad-ass.

P.S. I’m giving away two free entries to Mudderella’s New England event on July 30 (it’s up in Epping, NH). Just leave a comment below on what owning your strength means to you. Bonus points for tweeting about this post tagging @healthy_chicks and #Mudderella

Alright, I’ll let Zoe take it away!

NAME/AGE: Zoe Schwartz, Age 30

BLOG/WEB/TWITTER: Zoe’s Instagram // Mudderella.com

CURRENT CITY: Brooklyn, NY

PHOTO TAKEN: Taken in 2015

WHAT YOU DO FOR WORK: Director of Brand & Performance, Mudderella

NUMBER ONE PASSION: Fitness

I FEEL MY HEALTHIEST SELF WHEN I AM: Carving out dedicated time to be active, either lifting weights at the … Read More!

Note: This post is sponsored by Vocalpoint and True Runner, but as always all opinions are my own.

It’s been in the high 80s in Boston this week, and summer is on my mind: roof-top bars, crop-tops, BBQing, beach days, and all the good stuff that comes with my favorite season. As the weather starts to warm up — along with my mood — I also begin thinking about fitness and how I move my body.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that running has always been one of those exercises that makes me shine. Unfortunately, these past few months have got the best of me and I’ve been kind o’ putting my weekly fitness on the back burner. However, a mind-clearing run last week up Summit Avenue hill (for those of you who don’t know, it’s a monster hill in the heart of Brookline) got running back on my mind.

And what better way to inspire a gal to keep it going than new workout clothes + gear? (If you know me, my wardrobe is like 90% fitness, 10% regular person!) That’s why I was delighted when I got the opportunity from the lovely … Read More!

Good morning, darlings.

You’ve got this. You can do this.

You are enough. You are doing enough, in fact much more than you may even realize. But I see it, and she sees it; now it’s your turn.

You’re super beautiful, yes on the outside, but I’m especially talking about your soul. It sparkles.

You truly do have a lot to be grateful for, even if things seem to be falling apart right now. Look within.

There is no need to make any big changes; rather change your perspective. You’ll see things differently — more clearly, in a more positive light.

Let yourself shine. Don’t hold back. Stay humble, but radiate confidence.

Do you. Do only what you want to do. If it feels right, follow that. If it feels off, dig deeper and ask “why.” When it feels really good and juicy, you are listening to your soul.

Stop. Slow down. Breathe. Take a minute. You are only one person, ya gotta take care of yourself.

Rock it out, take time to laugh, make time for play.

You’ve got this.

xoxo,

Rachel… Read More!