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Lifestyle

Life Update……

March 25, 2019

Hello! I cannot believe I’m finally able to share the news! I’ve been talking about this for so long with some of my friends and family and am thrilled to share the news with my blog friends and readers!

I’ve been both excited and nervous to write this for a long time…

We are MOVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes I said it out loud (or wrote it out at least). My husband Joe, my dog Emma, and I are moving to the East Coast! I have always, ALWAYS wanted to live on a coast so I’m pumped to be heading to New England. We are moving out this coming Sunday, March 31 and will be in New England on April 2 (taking two full days to drive there).

If you’ve known me for awhile, then you know I’ve been talking about moving FOREVER. Basically since I moved to Minnesota. I never really wanted to move here, if I’m being truly honest. My husband can tell you that I basically started to talk about moving after we first started dating. While, after a lot of time, consideration and planning, it is FINALLY happening and I could, WE could not be more excited!

Where are you moving to?

So for at least the first month, you’ll find us in small-town Vermont! But the long-term plan is Boston. I have been there now five times, which doesn’t necessarily mean much for living somewhere permanently, but I can say I am just as in awe and in love with Boston every time I go there. My husband and I have talked about, interviewed in, explored and looked at apartments in Boston. But first we are taking a relaxing month to explore more of New England and enjoy some of the scenery in Vermont and New Hampshire by renting an Airbnb in Vermont (but right on the border of New Hampshire)! It is also only a 2.5-hour drive to Boston, so we will still be able to get there if we want, whether that’s interviewing or looking at apartments.

Some of you might be asking yourselves why we decided to do Vermont first, and it is for quite a few reasons actually!

A. We haven’t found the perfect apartment (and not that I expect it to be perfect, perfect) but getting an apartment in the Boston area can be like putting a down payment on a house. I’m serious. I learned about not only the full month’s security deposit and first month’s rent, but also the realtor/broker fee (worth one’s month rent) and last month’s rent. Yes, I KNOW/KNEW it would be super expensive, but that’s exactly why I want to continue looking at apartments to find one that makes sense for us! I just want to ensure my husband can be equally involved so we can find an apartment WE BOTH truly love before putting so much money on the line.

B. Sadly, I interviewed in person for a couple of jobs, making it to the final round for both, but was not offered either of these jobs. Honestly, I still to this day feel like a failure. For me, life has always been so planned and I’ve always done everything I could to prep for the next steps in life. Like always, I found out how no matter well-planned or prepared, life does not always work out the way you want. The plan was interview for new jobs in Boston, get a job and move by the end of March, all without having to pay to break our lease (which of course would have also been expensive). We decided to take the leap. With my husband working remotely, and my ability to earn an income from the blog, we made the risky, terrifying and oh so freeing decision to get out of Minnesota and make our dreams come true! While scary, I’m also SO excited for what’s next and what’s to come.

C. Small-town Vermont helps us SAVE a lot of money on rent, etc. for the month of April. Having this extra savings from what we were spending on our apartment in Minnetonka will just be extra cushion to our “down payment” on an apartment and/or the general cost of living while we make the adjustment.

D. We are both SUPER excited to live in a small town (of only 500) for a month. We are literally going to be living on Main Street of a small town, two blocks from a market, walking distance to two restaurants/diners and driving distance to tons of parks, nature and beauty that is Vermont/New Hampshire.

New Adventures

I honestly sometimes feel like I’m living out one of my favorite Hilary Duff songs – “Why Not” – ya know the whole “there may never be a sign, no flashing neon light, telling you to make your move, or when the time is right, so WHY NOT take a crazy chance, why not do a crazy dance…” and so on and so forth. I have made some EXTREMELY difficult decisions in the past year. So has my husband. And together, we are so ready for this fresh start. To take on the world together! To do something new and scary and (hopefully) rewarding.

The best part about all of this is that every single friend and family member we’ve told has been so supportive. I cannot thank them enough for supporting us as we start this new journey and chase our dreams! I have said it so many times before, but I don’t know how lucky I got with all of these amazing people in my life.

Writing this, I’m so emotional. Full of excitement for what’s ahead. Equally nervous and sad. Leaving behind so many amazing friends and moving further away from our families is not the part of this I want to face. But I know this is the best thing for us right now. Even my grandma, who I thought would take the news horribly, took it well and said “Good for you, now is the time to do it while you’re young. And you have to live and be where you want to be.” Well said grandma! I look forward to everyone coming to visit and coming back home to visit soon! We will be definitely making a lot of trips back to the Midwest!

Thank You!

THANK YOU so much for stopping by to read all of my crazy thoughts on this major life update. I will be working on a couple more moving posts soon. One being “Why Boston?” because I get that question so often and just sharing the hardships and excitement that come along with moving halfway across the country. I hope you all are excited to come along on this new journey with us! Thank you again – love you all and can’t wait to share so much more soon!

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Comments

  1. Amy's Fashion Blog says

    March 27, 2019 at 7:46 PM

    Congrats on your big move.

    http://www.amysfashionblog.com/blog-home

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      April 2, 2019 at 5:14 PM

      Thank you so much Amy! We are excited – and finally here!

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Rachel. Welcome to Rachel's Lookbook. Here you can find everything from fashion and beauty to travel and lifestyle.

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Hello friends! It’s been awhile again (surprise, Hello friends! It’s been awhile again (surprise, surprise) I’ve been around... been creeping around here 😂 but haven’t posted in forever!

So hello hello! I know the world is still in a crazy state - and I haven’t lost sight of that. But like many people, I’m trying to take it all one day at a time and find joy in the small things. Aside from that, things have been busy!...

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* My husband and I celebrated 3 years in October 👰🏼‍♀️... we were able to celebrate with a nice home-cooked dinner (by the hubby of course 😏☺️) and a bottle of wine from the winery he proposed at @ridgevineyards
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And this is one of the only pictures I’ve taken this year 😂 I actually did my hair and makeup for Thanksgiving (ya know to hang out with my husband and dog), and even though my curls only lasted two seconds, I look happy and I was happy and I am happy (as happy as I think anyone can be in the middle of a pandemic). So wanted to say hi 🙋🏼‍♀️ and hope you’re taking care! 🤗
I love you and I love fall. Still love looking bac I love you and I love fall. Still love looking back at our engagement photos 😍 #throwback #engagementphotos #youaremyeverything
#Ad Having battled oily skin for years, the heat a #Ad Having battled oily skin for years, the heat and humidity that comes along with summer makes it even tougher to battle breakouts. It's also a struggle to find the right moisturizer that keeps my skin healthy, balanced and glowing all while reducing irritation. This summer has been especially hard as I've struggled with "maskne"! That's why I'm beyond excited to tell you about the Clarifying Oil-Free Water Gel Moisturizer from @muradskincare! This moisturizer is a game-changer for someone like me with acne-prone, oily skin. This oil-free moisturizer helps minimize impurities while balancing your skin's microbiome for healthier-looking skin. Since using this, my skin is clearer and healthier looking! I have battled so many breakouts around my chin and on my cheeks this summer - but am so relieved to be seeing results and seeing clearer skin while also getting the crucial hydration I need. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, ginger root, and Korean red pine extract, this moisturizer will hydrate, balance, and improve the look of your skin as well no matter your skin type or needs! I am telling you, you do not want to pass up adding this product to your routine! It is available at @ulta, @sephora and Murad.com. I am a long time user and lover of Murad products but have to say, this is one of my all-time favorites. Have you tried their new Clarifying Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer? #ulta #sephora #MuradSkincare #MuradPartner
Woman’s Best Friend 🐶 Happy #NationalDogDay t Woman’s Best Friend 🐶 Happy #NationalDogDay to my FURever friend @emmaminiaussie ❤️ Equal parts sweet and sassy, she makes life so much better and brings joy to everyone she meets! Swipe through to see her when she was just a little pup 😭🥰 & to see how much she loves taking selfies with me 🤣😂
It’s been awhile and A LOT has happened in our w It’s been awhile and A LOT has happened in our world since I last posted to my feed. There is a lot I want to say and I will be posting a lot more soon, but first & foremost...

Black Lives Matter.

I wish I had posted about this in my feed sooner, but I honestly didn’t know what to say or how to say it. I spent way too long overthinking it versus just doing it. I know that’s not an excuse, and I know I have to do better. I’ve been spending a lot of time reflecting and educating myself as well as finding ways to help and be proactive. I am committing myself to do more and do better. I know it’s not enough and I’m not sure it will ever be enough... but I will never stop trying. 

The most important thing I learned is that my silence in the past was unacceptable and a huge part of the problem. I thought not knowing what to say and worrying about saying the wrong thing meant it was ok to be silent. It WAS NOT and IS NOT ok.

I have so much more to learn and to do, but one thing is for sure... I will no longer be silent. I will continue to keep the anti-racism resources link in my bio - as it has been a great resource for me and know it has been for many others. Again, I’m not excusing myself for not posting in my feed sooner but I will continue to share and hope to keep the momentum going 🖤 Black Lives Matter 🖤
Hey friends! How are you?! We made it through anot Hey friends! How are you?! We made it through another *very unusual* & crazy/scary week. I hope you are staying safe & well!
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Yesterday we took Emma @emmaminiaussie to the vet for her annual vet check up. It was her first appointment at a new vet since our move, and we had to let her go in alone. My anxiety has been off the charts lately, as I’m sure it has been for many of you, and heightened even more by this. Emma is truly our child, our daughter, and I am always anxious wanting to ensure she’s happy and doing well.
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Sitting outside in the car waiting for the call from our new vet was difficult, but I’m so happy to report her health at almost 8 years old is wonderful! She’s thriving and it makes my heart so happy. Another great reminder during these times to be thankful for what matters most - your health and your loved ones’ health (including your fur babies 🐶). So with another long caption today just wishing health and safety to all of you right now! And another thank you to essential workers on the frontlines ❤️🙏🏻 #emmatheminiaussie #loveconquersall #stayhealthy
Hello Instagram family… it’s been awhile. I ha Hello Instagram family… it’s been awhile. I have not posted in my feed since February… and so this is going to be a long one since life as we know it has completely changed over the past month. 
I decided I needed a mental break from Instagram - not all social media - just Instagram. I have been unmotivated to post on this particular platform and was constantly posting old photos/photoshoots just to have something to post. So I took a break to refresh. 
Well, as you know, things started to escalate pretty quickly with COVID-19. I was just about ready to start posting again and BOOM. Just like that, everything in our world changed. It didn’t feel right to post my latest outfit at that moment… 
Things are still escalating, but I’m back here today because I’m longing for connection more than ever and because I want to say THANK you to so many people. 
Things are scary right now. They are uncertain and unfathomable. We are all trying to adapt to a new normal. I don’t have much to add to what others have been saying, but I do want to say I’m thinking of and praying for everyone, especially those directly affected by the pandemic. 
I also want to say thank you to everyone putting their lives at risk to help our country and our world during this time. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to healthcare workers, delivery drivers, grocery store workers, pharmacy/drugstore workers, app-based gig workers out in the field, restaurants who are feeding healthcare workers and feeding children lunches, teachers going above and beyond, to those helping get their parents, grandparents, friends, neighbors and others who are vulnerable the essentials they need to get through this. You are all HEROES and I can never express enough gratitude for what you are doing. 
I don’t have much else to say, but I hope to continue to connect with you all again on this platform. THANK YOU to everyone who is putting an effort into making a difference during this pandemic. Staying home means so much right now if you are able to! We will get through this together if we work together. Stay safe, stay well, and be kind ❤️ #stayhome #besafe #thankyou
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