A Giveaway

I am so excited to be apart of this giveaway! I am teaming up with Beka Felecia and Alex to give away a this fujifilm instax camera! I honestly had no idea what was so great about it until I read Beka's blog post on the giveaway! (You should go read it!) It's a mini polaroid camera! How fun is that?! Now I want one! 

I totally stole this pic from Beka's post about the camera! 

It could be yours if you enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's a happy Monday

Have I ever mentioned that I love slow mornings? Well I do, but they don't happen all that often! Today is one of those rare occasions, especially rare on a Monday of all days! It's actually the calm before that storm, the rest of the week will be crazy! It's the figure skating club's show week so that means I will be at the rink every night! I'll be in my happy place EVERY NIGHT! Life is good:) It's my first show with this club so it's also a bit of a learning curve to figure out how they do everything! Most of the coaches including me, are doing a program as a group! AHH It's been eight years since I've performed in a show! I never thought I would ever be performing again. You just never know where life is going to take you I guess.

Ok relaxing morning is over. Dang.

Have a happy Monday!
Ciao,
Rachel

Roma Day {4} Wednesday morning audience.

This was probably the number one highlight of our time in Roma. We were able to attened the Wednesday morning audience with the Pope! Pope Frances is totally and completely the peoples Pope. He is so pernable down to earth and loving! It was incredible to experience this first hand! 

Freezing our buns off while waiting for Pope Frances to arrive!

I definitely didn't dress warm enough that morning! It was so worth it though!

Cappuccino's

As some might have guessed I gave up coffee for Lent this year, it was probably the hardest thing I have given up so far. I am SO glad I did it though! In taking this long break from it I found out just how much I hate how it makes me feel! I hate the caffeine effect, but love the rich creamy taste of a cappuccino. I was so much calmer without the caffeine, less rushed and could think clearer. I still love coffee but it is going to be kept at a minimum from now on, more like once or twice a week instead of three to four times a week. I have to say too, now that I can have it I don't really want it. It was really fun to get up early Easter morning and make an iced cappuccio and hide Easter eggs:)

Are you a big coffee drinker?

Have you ever given it up before?

Have a wonderful day!

Ciao,

Rachel 

He has risen Alleluia Alleluia

Alleluia He has risen! Easter is always a joyous time for me. After what feels like a long Lent Easter is an amazing celebration, Jesus has conquered death for us for me. It hit me in a different way than it ever has in the past. His love for us, as I offered thanksgiving to Him it felt so inadequate for the amazing love and passion He has done for me. I will never be able to repay His great love, I will in my little pathetic attempts resolve to be a better person with His help and that of the Saints.

                 She loves her Auntie:)

I actually hit quite a few clay pigeons!

It was a wonderful day with family!!:)

Ciao,

Rachel

Photo Friday selfies

I am not a huge selfie person, I feel extremely awkward taking a picture of myself so I don't do it much. Here you go though:)

This is me at work, well when I'm sitting at my desk anyway. Man I have such a glamorous life don't I? I mean check out that hot lab coat over turquoise! I do have to say it makes getting dressed in the morning extremely easy! 

Here is one of my favorite selfies:)

Have a blessed Easter weekend everyone! I cannot wait for it to get here!!!!

Ciao,

Rachel

Roma day {3}

It was a beautiful morning

that was awesome

i am determined to get more posts out this week! i need to keep going with my Europe pictures and i need to finalize my Europe book ASAP! i cannot wait to have it in print so i can flip through it!

as most of you know my happy place is on the ice, it's especially fun when i can share that love with someone else! that someone else this weekend was my Goddaughter! it was a two hour session and i was thinking she would last an hour or so but, she didn't want to get off the ice! that's my girl:) and on the car ride home she kept saying "that was awesome!" it made me smile! it starts out as a love, and for me an addiction for that freedom of flying across the ice, and doing tricks that only blades and ice allow me to do!

the rest of the weekend consisted of enjoying the beautiful weather that we had at the beginning of the week it's rainy and cold now. i also went my "stuff" in my old bedroom at my parents that i never took with me after i moved out. it feels really good to have that done! now i have a trunk full of salvation army stuff in my trunk and stuff that i need to find a place for in my apartment! i'll tackle that tonight....hopefully, dancing with the starts is on though so that might not happen. whoops.

Happy Monday!

Ciao,

Rachel

Sunday currently {30}

reading ~ Wuthering Heights along with the Bible and Divine Intimacy. I'm still on the introduction of Wuthering Heights, I haven't had a ton of time to read for leisure. Mostly because I go to bed early I just can't stay awake to read!

writing ~ drawing and scribbling out figure skating show choreography! It's fun:)

listening ~ To Pandora my fav!

thinking ~ about summer and sunny day's by the pool! I've been trying to plan some fun little trips for the summer! I hope I can get them to work out! Fingers crossed:)

smelling ~ Some amazing perfume from Anthropologie! I bought two different ones of their Tocca and where them both together believe it or not and LOVE it! Florence and Colette.

hoping ~ For a really good Holy Week. I want to do better with fasting. I am terrible at fasting I'm always hungry! I really want to do better this year!

loving ~ My new Chambray shirt from J Crew. I was totally against these shirts when they first came back. I am picky on what color and style, and the one from J Crew is perfect!

wearing ~ Skating tights under Nike running pants a peach t and my chambray shirt! I'm headed back to the rink for show practice soon!

feeling ~ Blessed. Seriously I have good health wonderful jobs that I enjoy, a place to live and a wonderful family!

rejoicing ~ In the long weekend I just had! I was able to take one of my Goddaughters skating!:) It is always fun to see her skate, and how much she loves it!

anticipating ~ Easter! I am so excited for Easter, it will be extra nice this year because I only have to play the piano for Sunday Mass and not Easter vigil. Easter vigil is my favorite Mass of the year. Yes it was kinda fun to play for it last year but I really like to just be in a pew for that Mass. It's always hard to play the piano and really feel like I'm able to focus on the Mass because I'm always thinking about what I have to play next and when to come in!

God Bless!

Ciao,

Rachel

Photo Friday

Happy Friday and happy long weekend to me!:) I'm off today and love it! I will be spending the afternoon with my niece and my sister!:)
Today's photography Friday prompt is black and white. I snapped a couple pictures with my phone on my run this morning.

I used the Noir filter on my iPhone. I'm still not sure if I like it.

And a black and white from Rome! Oh how I want to walk the streets of Rome and taste a cappuccino again!

Have a wonderful weekend! What are you up to this weekend?

Ciao,

Rachel

Loving

The spring weather, and that Easter is around the corner! I always feel like it is officially spring once Easter is here, I think it's because no matter what the weather I always wear a spring dress and sandals on Easter and from there on out I always wear sandals! Those boots and coats can go away!

~ My Hunter boots! Yes I finally got myself a pair and the perfect year and season for them too! They have come in handy more times than one! 

~ Makeup? I can't believe makeup just made it on my blog! Me of all people is posting about makeup that I love. I hardly ever wear makeup! This stuff from Bobbi Brown I love though. Mostly because it is so easy to put on! I always hated eye shadow because it was a powder and would just puff everywhere but on my eye lid and I didn't have much control over it. This cream shadow is amazing. You can apply it with your finger and it goes on perfectly! The rouge is called pot rouge for lips and cheeks, also applied with your fingers, so easy! And my favorite believe it or not, the red lip stick! I have always thought that lipstick was ridiculous and well lately for some reason I really love red lips! This red 10 by Bobbi Brown is da bomb!

Source

~ Absolutely obsessed with this hat that I found on our shopping trip at Anthropologie! I have been looking for the perfect cute sun hat for a while and this one is perfect! I can't wait to wear it by the pool this summer!

~ Loving my Teavana to go mug! It has the tea basket in it so it's really easy to have tea to go! It is also an easy way for me to make iced tea! 

I hope you're all having a lovely week! 

Ciao,

Rachel 

Lately

How is it possible that the weekend came and went so fast! It was such a fun spring weekend with my Mom sister and her youngest little girl! I didn't want it to end! There is something about spring, that makes me SO happy! I have a much better outlook on life and I am happier in general! I guess I am one of those people who need warm sunshine and fresh air! 

I haven't been sharing much on here lately. I just haven't been in the mood to sit down and post. 

Here's what I've been up to lately according to my phone!

Lot's of silliness with the little crazies!

Flowers for myself just because they were pretty and I'm excited for spring!

My first run outside of the year! It felt great!

Shopping with the girls! Dressing room shot:) What do you think of the pick jacket?

Before! 

My beautiful Mother!

After!

(I look goofy in this picture.)

I miss my length already......but my head does feel much lighter and it's nice to be able to lean back in a chair and still be able to turn my head:)

Sunday funday grilling and enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather! I guess the remote no longer works....it's possesed haha!

Ciao,
Rachel

Photo friday

Where are you spring? It was white out again this morning! Ugh seriously Minnesota get over it all ready I want to be out in the sunshine! Oh well at least I have a fun weekend comiong up:)

A few weeks ago my lovely friend from Chicago came for a visit! It was such a fun relaxing time together! It was wonderful to catch up with her and so fun to see her cute baby bump! 

She flew in mid morning so we were able to have the day in the city. First stop, Minnehaha falls. This is a place I've never actually visited even though I'm from MN. It was beautiful see as it was just starting to thaw! 

After trying not to fall down the stairs that were blocked off for good reason we went to an amazing coffee house in Minneapolis! You can check that out on Maggie's blog!

Happy Friday!

Ciao,

Rachel