Friday Finds

It has been none stop this week! I am getting so much done though and I love it! The sun was shining for a few hours yesterday and it was glorious! GLORIOUS! I was so happy until the clouds took over again:( It was a teasing of the beautiful spring that is just around the corner.

Some beautiful blooms from last summer to brighten your day:)

Little steps

It always amazes me how quickly life can be put into perspective. I was feeling discouraged at the beginning of the week about my schedule and the hunt for an apartment, I felt like everything was falling apart. The adorable condo that a friend and I decided to go ahead on was rented out a day before we put in our application. Someone at work with more seniority than me wanted to go down in FTE, therefore, I would no longer be eligible for a decrease in FTE to accommodate my figure skating students.

Weeks End

WOW, what a weekend! And hello COLD Minnesota?! 

Ryan Bradley (2011 National Champion)

~ First of all it's National skating month and the 2016 US National Figure Skating Championships are taking place only blocks away from where I live. I can hardly believe how Blessed I am!

~ One of my students competed in her very first figure skating competitions. I couldn't have been prouder, she was pretty scared at first but, in the end she did a fabulous job!

~ I had a fun visit at my sister and her families home! I always love being with them! We had a dance party to Sugar and Raffi. I even let my almost three-year-old niece paint my nails purple with sparkles:)

~ Today, the coldest day this winter so far, my phone read -6 degrees, I participated in a frozen 5k. As in an ice skating 5k. It was worth getting bundled up for. I had a really fun time skating with a fellow coach and a group of skaters from our club. I have the coolest job that has given me some pretty sweet opportunities in life. 15:04 min:sec. Some of us were a little competitive and had to do it for time. I love a good competitive spirit.

I hope you enjoyed your weekends!

Have a beautiful day
Ciao,
Rachel

Thanksgiving

I hope that you all had wonderful, grace filled Thanksgivings! I'm a day late because we were all still having too much fun yesterday!  

~ For the time spent with family this weekend and helping decorate my parents house for the Christmas season! It is transformed into a Christmas wonderland every year and I love it! 

Grateful Friday / 2015

I'm going to be sore and limping for days, I get stiffer and more out of shape every year! Yesterday I went ice skating and didn't hold back as usual. I'm not going to lie I had some epic falls. I had a hard time getting my feet under me on the landing of a split jump and well yes I fell spinning in the splits and laughing at myself! Joys of the sport:) I honest to God have no idea how I used to do that six days a week plus off ice training. HA, I was in insanely good shape. 

Strangers and social media

It is a new season and a big season of change for me. While I am not where I want to be yet, the tide is still changing and building in the right direction and my sails are wide open and ready!

Remember how I said last week was a quiet week? My weekend was just the opposite.

A parent contacted me to inquire about her skater taking private lessons from me! You guys I get so excited every time I get a new student! Eek

I met some new friends this weekend as well. I can hardly believe it. My neighbor, literally a wall away is a really nice Catholic girl. Woah peeps I was SO meant to have this apartment! We were on the elevator (gasp) both on our way to the farmers market and talked the whole way there, and plan to get together sometime soon.

I C E

Two more days until Chicago! And only four more days until a dear friends wedding! I am so so happy and excited for her:)

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Two of my favorite things happened this weekend; spending time with two of my Godchildren and ice skating! I always love spending time with these two. My niece has been bugging me for a skating date for a while now. I finally took her and her brother on one this past weekend!

positives and negatives of the city {1}

The day we had matching outfits on:)

It is a yoga pants and sweatshirt kind of a morning:) I was texting a friend the other day and they asked "off to work?" I say "no I just went to Mass at the Cathedral and got breakfast at a Cafe on Cathedral Hill." I have moments when I realize I am living in the city, and I can hardly believe it! I haven't felt this at peace with my life in a long long time.

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Coaching is a dream. Really, I love it so much. The kids are a blast so far. One of them thought I was nineteen, YAY haaahaha! Love it. Last night I taught a couple of new classes for the first time, after I introduced myself to the kids one little boy says "So when is the real coach coming?" HA ha ha I thought it was so funny, the things kids say, they're so honest! The other coaches are super sweet as well, my gosh, night and day compared to the last club I coached at!

My apartment (insert eyes of hearts here) my new little "home", is so adorable. I love the quaintness of the old building and it's character. My gym in my opinion is pretty, and it makes me want to work out even more! If you can believe that? HA you can't or you shouldn't I don't know. Maybe I'll get those six pack abs while I live here? doubt it, there is a chocolate factory and a wine and spirits shop as I like to say, in my "basement"! he he I have resisted thus far.

I can walk to work in ten minutes. faster than I can; drive, park and walk into work! That alone is awesome!       

There is more to do here than going to gross bars! WAHOO No I haven't discovered much yet, a beautiful running trail, how to get around, (I haven't gotten lost yet, not a big enough city) lots of restaurants and patios I want to visit! Plans are in the making. 

My coworkers are pretty darn great too! It is a stress free job really. You won't understand this but, I don't look at the final reports on any of my studies anymore, and it is so freeing! I am confident I got what I needed and I don't care what the Cardiologists opinion is. PERIOD! A lot of their reports were making me mad anyway, especially after working at Mayo. Instead I am focusing on being happy and how to be happy. What makes me happy? Being close to God and growing in my Faith in Him. It truly does, it brings peace to my life. Family, friends people in general, giving your time to them. Living for someone else. Living this life for God and wanting what He wants. I could go on and on, I'll stop.

I am only forty-five minutes from my sister and her awesome family! I cannot wait to have the kids over for a pizza/slumber party! And forty-five minutes from a dear friend and her family! Seriously that is going to be SO nice, you have no idea. We have never been that close in proximity, ever! We already have plans of the things we want to do now that we are closer. 

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Traffic really sucks! I mean REALLY sucks! it takes an hour to go what should only take twenty minutes. I have never had to deal with this before, and it's an adjustment for sure. That's the only big downside to my two jobs at the moment, they are on opposite ends of the twin cities:( It's okay I'll deal, it's worth it.

My Mom wants to stay with me a weekend she has a conference in the cities! I'm going to be out of town though. Ugh why do things always end up on the same weekends? WHY?! It would be so fun to go to restaurants and such with her.

I don't have a yard or balcony. That's no different from my last place though so that's okay. Some day I'll get a yard with a garden:)

I can't really think of many negatives. I am trying not to dwell on the bad and only think of the good God has put in my life:)

Have a beautiful day!

Ciao,

Rachel

Being open to the possibilities

I don't want to live my life cautiously and always play it safe. If you don't take risks how are you ever going to make a difference? The thing that stops me is the fear of failure. I for one should know that failure is only a stepping stone to success. It's an opportunity to learn and better yourself. Is it easy? NO that's why my human nature wants to avoid it. It can be humiliating, embarrassing, and sometimes discouraging. What it can be if you have the right perspective, character building, breaking your spirit to rebuild it and make it stronger, ridding you of your pride, encouragement to be a better person, and a reminder that you can do nothing without a strong faith in God. And the belief that He allows everything to happen for a reason.   

My students like to tell me that they don't like to fall. I always respond with, "It's figure skating it goes with the sport, just as much as landing the jump, if not more." It's like eating without food, IMPOSSIBLE. They don't want to fall because they're afraid it will hurt. Not only physically but mentally, who wants to fall in front of an audience? But what if you gave it all you had and you succeeded beyond your expectations? It's worth the possible bruises, isn't it? Why do we limit ourselves so much? Why do I limit myself so much? I think back on my skating career and see it as a time when I didn't limit myself. I had no expectations I just gave it all I had and loved every minute of it. Until I started to let that little voice in my head that said "you could fail", I was succeeding beyond my expectations. I want that back! I want that freedom to live and dream with no limits BACK! Why is it so hard to have mastery over our own minds? 

I have been thinking of ways in witch I can get myself out of this town and out of this rut that I feel like I am trapped in. Coaching figure skating is where my passion is, it's where I want to put my time and energy. Part of this decision, making it happen has to be practical, and the other part will be a leap of Faith. God wouldn't put this on my heart if I wasn't meant to make something of it, right? We are called to use our talents for the good of others. It's time to put myself out there and open up my mind to the possibilities!  

I hope you are having a Blessed first week of Advent!
XO
Ciao,
Rachel

edges//the other side of the boards

Ok peeps I really like Christmas and all but why on earth is there a Christmas section in Target already? WHY? Seriously, that's insane! Earlier and earlier every year before you know it it'll be up year round ha ha ha! I won't lie though I walked through it and got really excited, but I will not start doing anything Christmas related until after Thanksgiving! That reminds me Grateful Fridays' start up again in November!

[to the rink]

Remember this post? Where I talked about how nervous I was about taking my first student to her first U.S. Figure skating test session. When the day finally came I was definitely nervous, my heart was beating out of my chest as I coached her from the boards during her warm up. The test session was held at my home club, so it was nice to see familiar faces around. Including one of the judges, who has judged quite a few of my tests and competitions. My student skated fabulously and passed both tests with flying colors! The said judge made a comment on one of her tests "you are being well taught" OK I basically almost lost it. I was so happy for my student, because she is a good little skater, and I was so relieved to know that I am doing a good job with my students. It's one of those things that you have a lot of guidance in how to teach the skills, other than your experience. To say that it was nice to know that I am doing a good job, is an understatement! I was pumped! Ha ha 

So yes all those nerves for nothing. I guess it just means that I care too much right?

Here's to a splendid Wednesday!

Ciao,

Rachel

   

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

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

Loving

I have always been indifferent towards Valentines day, but lately I feel like it is so over done and cheesy! Just my opinion:) This post is mostly because I'm in need of an attitude adjustment. I need to appreciate what I have! Sometimes it's necessary to take a look at your life and realize it's pretty great! Because it's yours and it's what God has given you so LOVE it!

Loving

~ that this year has already started off better than last!:)

~ that I got to go figure skating today! 

~ this snowy winter!

~ my day off today:)

~ putting together my Europe book! And still amazed that I actually took that trip! I want to go back:)

~ warm sweaters and hot tea!

~ The Olympics!! See here.

~ My family! My nieces and nephews:) Man they are so much fun! I love being an Aunt, I pretty much get to be a kid again when I'm with them it's great!:)

Okay this last bit was not originally apart of this post but..... I was sending videos of myself skating this morning for my niece and nephew and well someone in blog world once said I should do a vlog of me skating! So here you go!

Happy Valentine's day! I spent mine doing something that I LOVE:)

Ciao,
XOXOXO
Rachel

what i will do for.......

Figure skating.

What are these winter Olympics doing to me? I am not kidding you people! It just goes to show how much I truly LOVE figure skating. I even went so far as buying a television to watch the winter Olympics! I have gone three years without one and haven't missed it a bit. I can hardly believe it. And I feel slightly bad about it for some reason. Like I caved to the pressure. I am not a TV watcher and I don't plan on becoming one just because I have a TV now. Except for the weeks that the Olympics are on of course! That little baby will be on every night! HAHA It will be more television watching in two weeks than I have watched in the past three years!  

It starts tonight! 

Ciao,

Rachel

Dear Friday Joys!

Ahhh happy Friday! I am so happy it's Friday wow it really makes for a long week when the work week starts on Sunday! I am really looking forward to this weekend. I don't have anything terribly exciting planned. A bible study that I almost forgot about until a couple of days ago! Catching up on laundry mixing up delicious bread, taking a judo class and heading to a founding day celebration. The celebration is for a Catholic lay movement I've been in since I was little! Oh and the best and worst part of the weekend........ The figure skating grand pre is starting with Skate America!!!! The bad news, I'm going to miss it because I won't be home Sunday. Boo. I'll just have to wait and watch it online! I'm still so excited for it to start! And it's an Olympic year!!! I love the Winter Olympics! EEK!!:) 

~ Dear early morning:

I loved you this morning and running outside as the sun was rising!

~ Dear good ole routine:

I love that I'm back into it! 

~ Dear newest issue of Verily:

I cannot wait to start reading you!!! What a fun welcome home gift in my mail box this week!

~ Dear home cooking:

You were so delicious for lunch today! Wow I have to post this recipe for you all! 

~ Dear luggage:

Unpack yourselves please!

~ Dear work:

I'm so glad to be back:) my coworkers are awesome!

~ Dear fall:

You're gorgeous and I am loving my runs out in the cool crisp fresh air! Gods creation is stunning!

~ Dear life and family:

I love you!!!!

Happy weekend everyone!

Rachel

I want to live there!

Another first for the winter! Well not for me but for two of my Godchildren anyway! I have been wanting to take them ice skating and I was determined to make it happen this year! I am so glad I did! Here are some fun pics from our time on the ice!

After a few times around with Dad and Auntie

she was cruising around all by herself and loving it!

Adorable!

He wasn't such a big fan of skating himself he just liked the rides I gave him and especially the spinning! He would say "Twirl me Rachel!"

We went to the rink thinking that the kids would maybe last thirty minutes but they were loving it! We ended up staying the whole hour and a half! I couldn't believe it!

  On the way home I asked my niece if she liked ice skating? and she replies with: "I love ice skating I didn't want to leave! I want to live there!" I couldn't have been happier:) she reminded me of myself when I started! I lived to skate and never wanted to get off the ice! Okay I might still be that way;)

Being an Aunt is so much fun! I cannot wait to take them again, and hopefully my other nieces and nephews too!

National Figure Skating Championship's

I have only mentioned it in every post that I have done this week so I thought it was about time I post about it! The National figure skating Championships of course:) It is one of my favorite competitions of the season!  This year was especially good everyone skated well and there were a few surprise medalists! I love it when that happens! Love me some figure skating a whole eight hours of it! I could go on for a really long time but I'll try not to bore you and just hit the highlights:)

Maryl Davis and Charlie White took the gold in ice dancing. Of course:) I can't wait to see them compete against there rivals the Canadian's at worlds!!

The men's competition was a blast to watch! I was really hoping Jeremy Abbott would skate well but he unfortunately did not:( He looked so disappointed in himself I felt so bad for him! It sucks to have a bad skate! On a happy note Max Aaron skated amazing and took the gold! His reaction at the end of his program was the best! He wasn't even expecting to medal! I love his West Side Story music too! I think that he could have been a little more creative with his choreography though.

I really like the fact that his costume is so simple and it isn't full of sparkles!

The ladies competition!
I was hearing a lot about Gracie Gold and couldn't wait to see her skate. She didn't do so well in her short program and was ended up in eighth place but her long program was incredible!!! WOW that girl can jump! She won the free skate but because of her eighth place short program she took second overall! That is still incredible for her first senior national's! Ashley Wagner even though she fell twice and did not win the long program overall she took first! Ashley is such an artistically beautiful skater!
Gracie Gold's long program!

 Her jumps are huge! And I love her reaction at the end too!

Hope I didn't bore you but I LOVE this sport:)

Grand Prix Final

I am so behind on my figure skating posts! It's terrible!

The Grand Prix Final was a couple weeks ago and it was so good! 

I was especially happy with the ice dancing results! Meryl Davis and Charlie White (USA) beat Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada! Yay! 

Javier Fernandez skated so well in his long program landing all three of his quads and one in combination! He unfortunately did not do so well in his short program so wasn't on the podium. His performance was still my favorite though!

I was really hoping that Ashley Wagner would skate well and take first but unfortunately she had some mess ups in her long program and took silver. She has been so rock solid all year, oh well can't be perfect all the time! She still had the best presentation of any of the ladies though!

Now I can't wait for Nationals!

Trophee Eric Bompard

It was another fun Sunday afternoon watching figure skating:) I was so happy for Jeremy Abbott he skated beautifully and so much better than his previous performance at Skate America. If only he hadn't made a couple little mistakes in his free skate he would have taken gold instead of silver. Still he is such a beautiful learical skater, I love watching him skate!

Ashley Wagner was amazing again! I am so happy for her she has finally had a break through and she is magnificent! Just goes to show that hard work pays off! I remember the first time I saw her skate it was in person at the 2008 National Championships, I remember really liking her skating but she would always have a few mess ups that would hinder her placements. She now has the whole package, artistry that is beautiful, jumps that are technically sound, and great speed and spins oh and her connecting moves into and out of jumps just add to the performance and of course the points! She needs add a triple triple though!

Rostelecom Cup

I am behind on my skating posts!

Well I was so excited for this competition that took place in Russia because Johnny Weir was making his come back.....again. I was so disappointed he had to withdraw after the short program due to a hip injury. Witch also kept him out of the next competition that took place this past weekend.

I was hearing a lot of hype about Gracie Gold in the previous competitions so I was very excited to finally see her compete! She place seventh at Skate Canada I guess but they did not show her performance. She did not disappoint! Here is her short program, after which she was leading but overall took the silver. Amazing it's her first season competing as a senior lady!