inspiration

Remy Bea’s Pink, Blue, + Gold Birthday Party

March 13, 2019 by Rachel 5 Comments

Remy Bea celebrated her 3rd birthday in January. Last year, for her second birthday, I planned an elaborate party. But January is a rough month in general. And between flu season and weather, I feel like I can never count on anything to fall into place, let alone everything that needs to for a party. Alas, it had to be cancelled.

So this year I felt like I really needed to make sure she had a great birthday party. And that’s why I planned a delayed birthday party for March!

Her one request from her Mimi was a Barbie cake. I don’t know what happened, but this child turned 3 and she decided she was a million percent girly. Well, a Barbie cake she received!

Her theme? Well, technically she didn’t have a “theme,” but she had a color scheme! And that color scheme was baby blues, pinks, gold, and GLITTER — so much glitter and sparkle!

The day of her party we were lucky to have so many of the people who love her present! Cousins, friends, grandparents, aunts, and uncles — they were all ready to celebrate our special little lady.

I debated the food for forever. I usually keep the food “on theme” but I was coming up blank for a kid who either wants to eat everything or wants to eat absolutely nothing but yogurt. Well, we went with a simple route — Philly Cheesesteak Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls (thank you, Instant Pot!), Remy’s favorite veggies (carrots + cucumbers) with dip, chips (obviously a toddler staple), and salad (oddly enough, also a Remy fave)

Her Mimi (my mom) made her two cakes — her requested Barbie cake and a blue ombré round cake with pink candies in the center. The ombré was a surprise from Mimi to Remy and she loved it!

After everyone snacked and chatted, we headed down to the gymnastics center for some tumbling. All of the kids — young and old — had so much fun.

By the end of the day, we were all completely worn out. But it was entirely worth it to see the joy in Remy’s eyes as we all celebrated her big day!

Cake: Made by Mimi
Decorations: Party City
Plates/Flatware: Target
Location: Riverfront YMCA

unintended lessons for my toddler // AKA thanks, random stranger

December 22, 2015 by Rachel 2 Comments

Dear Old Cranky Woman at the Cable Store:

I wanted to say thank you for reminding me that while everyone else I ran into yesterday was sweet and kind, there are still people who will be bitchy to strangers for absolutely no reason.

While Ari and I were minding our business, waiting our turn, you decided to ask my shy toddler a series of questions. Easy questions, yes. Like, “How old are you?” to which, he responded, “free.” Which is shy toddler speak for “three.” After he politely said hello to you and answered your serious of questions, I repeated what he said, for clarity purposes (I recognize that young parents are generally the only people who can properly translate toddler speak… plus he was being shy so it was a near whisper).

After you asked a series of other questions, you said “Maybe you can answer instead of MOMMY doing everything for you.” I ignored you. ‘Cause ain’t nobody got time for that. And? See above.

But when my very well-behaved toddler asked to watch a movie on Mommies phone (after waiting patiently in his stroller for 15 minutes without so much as a peep), I decided to abide. I pulled up the sweetest and most educational show on Netflix, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Another patron noted that her niece loves Daniel Tiger! I told her that we’re watching the episode about Daniel getting a new baby sister, in hopes to prep him for ‘the big change.’

Dear, dear, old lady… this is where you piped in, “I don’t think he’s going to care about his sister when he has all the TV to watch!”

Dare I say it, but oh-so-typical, old lady judgy talk… just days before Christmas, at that! YOU, dear lady, are the exact opposite of the person I try to be everyday.

And although I owe you ZERO explanation, here is what you DID NOT see:

My 3-year old has a cough from his Reactive Airway Disease (aka toddler asthma). He’s not been sleeping well; thus, his parents have not been sleeping well.
Despite his cough (and his Mommy getting only 2 hours of sleep), we both awoke at 7am to tackle the day.
The very well-behaved toddler you saw had already endured a trip to the grocery store and a doctors appointment without so much as a peep! That was two hours before our encounter.
This was the single errand I was dreading, since it was to my former employer (albeit, not the location I worked) and I had just been “let go” several days prior, at 35 weeks pregnant.

So thank you, mean old lady. You served as an example for my child; an example of how rude and condescending a person can be; an example of how NOT to behave to strangers.

Lucky for you, I just brushed our encounter off without a word. Because, let’s face it, you would have thought my behavior to be “typical” if I had said anything rude to YOU. Right? “Typical young person being rude to the elderly.” But no. No, that’s not the case. Let’s just call it the Christmas spirit. Or lack of fight. Regardless, I hope whatever miserable existence you have for this week is nothing like our encounter. If it is, I feel very sorry that that’s the kind of life you lead.

Sincerely,

A stranger with a lot to be sad about, but the one you see with a smile. Also known as The Mom who is doing a damn good job.

feel supremely happy //

February 6, 2014 by Rachel Leave a Comment

In an effort to live a more authentic life in 2014 and to do so happily, I’m sharing a list of some easy tips to serve as a reminder to myself (and to you!) on how GOOD it can feel to live in a way where you feel supremely happy!

Here’s what I’m focusing on right now:

Stop trying to impress other people.
Give/get at least one hug a day.

Control your reactions.
Feed a strangers expired parking meter.

Look people in the eye when you talk to them.
Learn something new.

Donate old clothes to the Salvation Army or Goodwill.
Give away your favorite book in an effort to share your love for it with others.

I’ll check back in in just a couple of weeks!

let it serve you // 2014

January 1, 2014 by Rachel Leave a Comment

2013 was a great year, but if I’m being honest, I was not my authentic self this year. I wasn’t fake; I just wasn’t the ME I want to be.

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve done some serious soul-searching and looking inward (unrelated to the pending new year). And I’ve had some time to reflect on what I need to do to make myself a better person and to live an authentic life.

It’s not a ‘resolution’; it’s a must-do list, of sorts. I’ll explain more later. I need more time to take it all in.

My mantra for this year is this:

But for now, here’s my ‘must-do’ list for 2014 to get myself back on track and back to being healthy (mentally, emotionally and physically):

2014 is a no-spend year. After years of frivolous spending, I’m cutting myself off. Completely. I know it may seem extreme, but I know that it’s necessary and completely doable. The only thing I am going to allow myself to do is to get a haircut every 6-8 weeks.
Meditate regularly. I’m not talking about those fleeting moments before drifting to sleep; I mean making a regular habit — in the morning — of getting out of bed 10 minutes earlier to really meditate and ground myself for the day.
Practice daily gratitude. In a way to live a more authentic life, I need to focus on how much I have to be grateful for. I’ll occasionally share these moments of gratitude, but otherwise I’ll be keeping a gratitude journal for the next 365 days.
Act with enthusiasm, integrity, and without expectations. Enough said.
Use exercise and healthy eating as ways of cultivating happiness and keeping away depression. Anything that is proven to naturally increase my mood and reduce fatigue is worth my time and dedication.

I have every intention of spending 2014 doing things that serve the happiness of those people I love most.

How will you serve what is important in your life this year?

Fitness Fridays // Finding Inspiration

January 25, 2013 by Rachel 4 Comments

You guys!
The love I received from yesterdays post is amazing!
Thank you! XO

So let’s talk fitness.

Or more specifically, on finding inspiration.

A coworker and I were recently discussing how at times when we were in the best shape of our lives,
we felt like we still didn’t look good.
Or not good enough.

We started going through old pictures.

And then it hit me.

I don’t want to look like these girls in magazines or on TV…

I want to look like this:

This is me circa 2008. Not all that long ago.
[PS. I’m a goof. Hence, most pictures I look like a complete weirdo.]

I was all of a size 2,
muscular,
eating healthy,
working out,
practicing yoga,
and in the best shape of my life.

I want this again:

That feeling comfortable and confident in my own skin.

That is the motivation I need.

Seriously.

I can do this.

I will work hard and get this body back!

Where do you find motivation?

{ book review: the last lecture }

January 12, 2012 by Rachel 2 Comments

I’ve always known that life should not be taken for granted. Unfortunately, that was something I learned from a very young age. But I’ve always struggled with knowing how to balance the fear of dying/losing people in my life, with actually living.

I think there is a very fine line between the depression and the optimism that comes with knowing life is short. Would you agree?

And I may be late to the game, but our Yoga Bliss book club recently decided to read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.

The book starts as Randy finds out that his pancreatic cancer has progressed and his doctors have given him only months to live. Knowing he’s about to leave behind a wife with three young children, Randy decides to bid farewell to his life in academia by giving one final lecture to his students and colleagues at Carnegie Mellon; while simultaneously documenting bits of advice for his young children.

Randy Pausch. Image via.

His message is inspiring. Throughout the book, I found myself on the verge of tears, and simultaneously amazed at his grace during such a tumultuous time.

At this point in my life, this book is exactly what I needed to read. I was already focusing so much positive energy into my vision board for 2012, and Mr. Pausch just reaffirmed my notions of what I need to make most important for myself.

My favorite takeaways:

1. “Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others.” — Basically, what good are you in your life/relationships if you’re not first and foremost taking care of yourself. True. Story.

2. “Proper apologies have three parts: 1) What I did was wrong. 2) I feel badly that I hurt you. 3) How do I make this better?” — Apologies seem like they’re easy. But they can be complicated. And when we should say we’re sorry, it should definitely be like this.

3. Material possessions are just that: material. Nothing of significant value is material. Everything important holds no material value.

4. “It’s not helpful if we spend every day dreading tomorrow.” — As someone who is often in fear of something bad happening, I really need to make a conscious effort to remember this.

5. “Ask yourself: Are you spending your time on the right things?”and to go along with that, “We all have finite time and energy. Any time we spend whining is unlikely to help us achieve our goals. And it won’t make us happier.” — Lesson learned? Make priorities. And make the important people a priority. Always.

6. “This is what it is. We can’t change it. We just have to decide how we’ll respond. We cannot change he cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” — Lately I’ve been having a number of ‘woe is me’ moments. But really? What does it all matter. Focusing on the negative won’t change the circumstances. But I can certainly focus on how I react to situations and the ‘hands I’m dealt.’

which leads to…

7. “If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you.”

So please take a few moments to read this book and to hear Randy’s inspiring story. Who knows — maybe it will be life-changing for you, too!