Hey guys, check it out – I officially own my very own URL over at http://healthy-chicks.com. Take a visit, check it out and let me know what you think. I kept the same look as my WordPress blog, so not too many changes, but I will most likeley be blogging from over there from now on. So bookmark me, add me to your Google Reader, you know the whole sha-bang ; )
Warm wishes to all!
XoXo,
The “Healthy Chick”
Happy Holidays everyone. Hope your weekend was full of cheer, tasty eats, good drinks and most importantly lots of laughs. Speaking of laughs, our family definitely shared many of those this weekend. If our family can do two things right it’s eating and laughing, and I think laughter is just so important to have in a family/a relationship / a friendship and any or all parts of life. Hence, I thought this quote was only fitting. Enjoy!
Happy Christmas Eve all! Besides the fact that this Christmas season has already brought me much joy (a boy I’m dating whom I kinda sorta really like, wonderful family reunions, SNOW, sisterly chats, more SNOW, and tasty eats, it’s also brought me a very special package that arrived just in time. What is this mystery package, you ask? Why, it was a big, big cardboard box filled with 25 of my very own “Healthy Chicks in the Kitchen” recipe books.
For those of you who don’t know, I’ve been working on these recipe books for some time now – from writing the intro and table of contents to coming up with fun titles and descriptions of each recipe. Oh, and I’ve also been busy cooking…gotta test ’em out, right?
Anyway, they finally came in the mail late Wednesday night, and after my mom and I ripped open the package, stared at the front cover, and flipped through the book (multiple times), I think it was safe to say I was oozing with happiness. I couldn’t – and still can’t – believe that I designed these babies all by myself, I came up with every single recipe in the book (all 64) and I was on the front cover. Me. With my full name. WOW. Now that’s a good feeling you can’t just get from anything.
Naturally, my mom wanted to take some to work to sell for her daughter (she owns a pretty sweet hair salon), so she laid them out nicely in a big pretty basket with tissue paper to take with her to work yesterday. I signed them of course so they’d have that personal touch… What I didn’t realize was that by the time I came to visit her yesterday evening, she would have already sold SEVEN of them. How neat? Seven people have my recipe book on their kitchen counters as we speak. I’m getting chills just thinking about it.
Well, just thought I’d give you a little update on the Healthy Chick front before things get crazy with the family/the food/the presents/and the additional food. Happy holidays to all. I wish you all a warm, healthy, happy, merry Christmas : )
XoXo,
Rachel
[source]
As much as we try to be perfect, pretty ‘n’ elegant most of the time, many of us have an awkward side…at least a little one. And some of us (including myself) have a higher percentage of awkwardness, though I’ve learned the only way to get through it is to laugh it off. If I didn’t know how to laugh things off, I’d be permanently blushing (or hiding away in my apartment). But for the most part we try to avoid awkward situations…so here are 10 things to try to stay away from this holiday season. Oh, and Happy Hump Day!
1. Going in for the kiss when the receiver was definitely just going in for the hug – makes for awkward movements all around, so be sure to survey the scene carefully before you make false judgements
2. Slipping on your ass in the middle of the sidewalk, or better yet in the middle of the street due to icy conditions & the fact that you wore high-heels ’cause you’d rather look sexy than be comfy and safe (done this many-a-time)
3. Clogging your boyfriend’s parents’ toilet…the very first time you meet them (not a good first impression) – attempt to de-clog yourself before you call for help
4. Throwing up on your date (I almost did this the other night though I held it in until I got home- funny thing was I wasn’t even drinking…it was just some random bug-yeesh)
5. The ever-so-awkward overly-enthusiastic “I loveeee it!” after you receive a present you absolutely HATE…at least act a little natural for goodness sake. No one gets that excited about an ugly sweater from Aunt Sue.
6. Getting so used to saying “I love you” to the fam that you end up accidentally throwing it out there to the mailman, the plumber or your taxi-driver. (oops)
7. Sending an overly mushy, gooshy, lovey-dovey email meant for your boyfriend/husband/lover to your boss
8. Getting a huge chunk of spinch stuck in your tooth during the first date with your new crush…and not realizing it until you get home to take off your makeup
9. Accidentally drinking too much red wine and saying way too much…way too fast…way too soon
10. Running into all your past enemies/exes/etc. at the local pub while everyone’s home for Christmas and having to make the same old small talk you do every other year
People who know me say that I’m always happy, and therefore when I’m not smiling or perky as ever, they assume there is something wrong. What can I say? I’m just a happy person and I feel there is no other way to be in life. However, lately I’ve been especially happy, like one big ball of happiness. I can’t stop smiling and feeling all warm & fuzzy inside. Maybe it’s the holidays or something but I am feelin’ good. That’s why I decided to share with you today 50 things that make me especially happy. Hopefully some of my happiness will spread to you…
1. Breakfast for dinner. Think: french toast, omelets and pancakes. This never gets old.
2. Trader Joe’s Candy Cane Green Tea
3. Road trips, like the 5-day one I just took to Florida
4. Yummy scented candles like Pumpkin Pie, Vanilla Frosting and Gingerbread. I swear I could eat ’em.
5. People watching…on the sidewalks, on the T and in the mall
6. Baking muffins/cookies/cakes/breads, even though I’m really not the best at it.
7. Catching snowflakes on my tongue
8. Kissing inside by the fireplace when it’s chilly and snowing outside
9. Decorating the Christmas Tree. I still love putting up the Bert and Ernie ornaments every year.
10. The soup & salad combo. Seriously, is there anything better?
11. Sparkly, glittery things, especially stickers ‘n’ decorations
12. Fuzzy slippers that you never want to take off
13. Hot hot showers that you turn into a “steam room”
14. Getting a surprise letter in the mail
15. Sending a surprise package to a friend
16. Gettin’ & givin’ presents
17. The smell of fresh Christmas trees…mmm
18. Laying down with a good magazine and a good cup o’ tea
19. Snuggling
20. Wearing bright red lipstick even on a non-special occasion
21. Getting new undies, new nightgowns and new lingerie especially at VS
22. Hitting the slopes for some skiing & feeling like you are on top of the world
23. Hot cocoa with marshmallows…especially when you are so cold your face goes numb
24. Talking to strangers and learning something new each time
25. Pea coats… all pea coats in every color
26. Blasting oldies and dancing around my apartment
27. Homemade dinner when I go home to my house in CT
28. Taking pictures…of everything & then putting them all over Facebook
29. Catching up with an old friend when it’s wayyyyy overdue
30. Peanut butter fudge
31. Twitter and all my friends I “meet” on the web
32. Friends that are there for you no matter what, like my neighbor who brought me Gatorade when I was sick last night
33. Random notes…on post-its in unexpected places
34. Cinnamon & sugar
35. Running outside…when you feel like you can run forever
36. Sunsets… in the mountains
37. Laughing until my stomach hurts over absolutely nothing
38. Mixed CDs
39. Trail Mix (homemade)
40. Hot tubs, especially when your muscles are sore
41. Being recognized for doing a good job
42. Random acts of kindness like giving up your seat on the train
43. Coffee in the morning…Gingerbread coffee from Trader Joe’s
44. Surprise spur-of-the-moment trips with the fam
45. The feeling I get after one glass of wine…flushed ‘n’ flirty
46. Good news
47. Reading my horoscope…when it’s really, really good & believing it
48. Long naps
49. Yummy tasting lip gloss
50. Laundry just out of the dryer
[Morgan & I pre-race]
Confession: I take my personal records very seriously (in all parts of life), so much that I nearly knocked down ten Santa Clauses and a few men in Speedos to beat mine at yesterday’s Jingle Bell 5K Run. I had my arms flailing, my legs moving faster than ever and I think I even boxed out a few Santas (oops). According to the timer on my iPod, I beat my PR of a previous 27:11 with a record-breaking 27:05. However, according to the online race results, I got 27:15, but I’m going to trust my iPod and celebrate anyway. If I had a clear pathway at the end (sans reindeer, Santas and fat men in Speedos), I totally could have broke 27 minutes. That’s all I’m sayin’. I was on a roll, baby!
But whether my time was 27:05 or 27:15, I am more than proud of myself. I am also ecstatic for my best friend who completed her first ever 5K! She hasn’t ran 3 miles straight in ages, yet finished the entire race like a champ just a little over 30 minutes. (Good job Morgs!) You see, her goal was simply to finish the race and that she did…beating a good 3,000 people or so too. If that’s not breaking a PR, I don’t know what is.
But, back to the point. I’ve never been an extremely competitive person. I don’t really care for gambling and I’ve never cried after a rec basketball loss. However when it comes to me and my personal achievements, that’s when I get competitive. That’s how it should be, after all. Who cares if your roommate ran the race in half your time? Why get down if your friend from college was offered a great job (and a raise) within one year after college? Why let someone else’s success completely break you down? If you think about you and you only, other people’s success won’t get to you. Be proud for them, and move on with it. They are them and you are you. Nothing else matters, really.
After all, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of knowing that you did it, that you reallllly did it. Whether that’s completing a 5K at record-breaking time, signing up for your first marathon, going after your dream job or pushing yourself to do yoga twice a week or aiming to be a better mother/friend/girlfriend, that’s completely up to you. But the fact that you did it all by yourself is the most rewarding thing there is in life.
Hey all! Sorry I’ve been MIA since Tuesday morning. I must say, it was for good reason however. I was busy road trippin’ down to Florida and getting lost at Disney World…you know the place where all your dreams come true. I must say, it has been quite a fun week of singing loudly in the car, wining and dining, and running around going on every ride like a little kid (yes, even It’s a Small World). But while I had one of the best weekends of all time, I am happy to be back to Boston and blogging for you all. Anywho, for this Quotable Sunday I thought it was only fitting to feature a quote from one of the many classic Disney movies…Cinderella.
YAY! The day has finally arrived. I’ve been up since 5 a.m. because I’m road tripping to Florida with… this boy (hehe). He has to drive his grandparents car down to Florida, and asked if I’d like to tag along, and let’s face it: I can’t say no to road trips. In order to ensure a happy, smiley trip (especially this early in the a.m.) I whipped up some trail mix for the road. Keeping in mind what he likes (yogurt-covered pretzels and Craisins) and what I like (raw almonds ‘n’ dark chocolate chips), I think I came up with the perfect blend.
-1/2 box original Puffins
-1 c. dark chocolate chips
-1 bag yogurt-covered pretzels
-2 c. raw almonds
-1/2 c. dried cranberries
-1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)
-whatever else you have hangin’ around the kitchen
~Combine into a big plastic bag, shake up and enjoy!
The other day, I was complaining about being Color Blind to the boy I am dating. It’s extremely rare for a girl to be Color Blind, but I unfortunately got the bad gene – something about dominant traits in my dad mixed with my mom’s carrier trait turned into Rachel being Color Blind. I complain like it’s the end of the world, but it’s not like I can’t see color. Whenever I tell people, they ask me “What color is the sky?” “What color is the grass?” Yellow and purple, duh! Seriously, people. Along with my lovely Color Blind trait, I also got the brown hair and the brown (sometimes green, so I guess hazel) eyes, while my sister is blonde with crystal blue eyes. C’mon gene pool, why me?
But as much as I complain, I realize all my traits (weird, bad, ugly and good) come from my family, and that makes me love everything about myself all over again – even if that means calling a friend over every time I need to find the “green” in Word and not being a blonde, blue-eyed babe. In fact, I actually love the fact that I’m naturally brunette- it matches my skin and eyes perfectly. I’ll also accept the fact that I got the curvy genes with the tiny waist, big butt and thighs. It makes wearing an LBD so much more fun!
But it’s not just the exterior traits that come from my fam. It’s everything about me. Since my parents are from Connecticut, I’m lucky enough to get to see them a few times a month to catch up and share some good laughs. Yesterday, they came up to spend some time with their lovely daughter and to meet….dun dun dun…the boy she’s dating, and it only reminded me how much I freakin’ love my family…just the way they are. My dad’s one of those outgoing guys who knows everyone and can work his way into anything, and would do absolutely anything for his daughters, and my mom’s his adorable little sidekick who says the most hilarious things when she’s not even trying to be funny. We may laugh at her a little more than we should, but we love her nonetheless! (ha, hi mom!) Then there’s my beautiful sister who is my other half; we balance each other perfectly.
Anyway, after spending some time with my parents yesterday I realized I get all my quirky little traits from them. I’m silly and sometimes ditzy like my mom, I talk too much like my dad, I pick at my food (and everyone else’s food) like my mom, I can take back tequila like my dad, I am sensitive and caring like my mom, I have a sense of humor like my dad, I like to write letters and homemade cards for my friends like my mom, I like going out and talking to anyone and everyone like my dad, I laugh at myself like both of my parents, and can sometimes think I am always right like…both my parents. I love to go shopping and cook like my mom, but learned to run and attempt to like sports like my dad. I am me because of both of them, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
So Color Blind or not, I love living in the genes I was given.
Are you more like your mom or your dad? What are some of your unique traits?
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