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Week Two in Vermont!

April 23, 2019

Oh where to begin? Are you surprised that I’m late on this post, just like the first one (I’m certainly not)? Even though we’ve only been out of Minnesota for three weeks, it feels like a lifetime. Time moves slowly in Vermont. Which, I’m not complaining about, it’s just different than the fast-paced lifestyle we’ve been used to for so many years.

Anyway, week two we definitely started to make more strides in our routine. I’ve been taking the time to go for a short run every morning – nothing crazy – just enough to clear my mind, get some fresh air and a little exercise. My husband has been taking Emma out for a walk on a daily basis, which she has been loving. We also used the pressure cooker a few more times week two. I learned the difference between evaporated milk and sweet condensed milk. Yeah, I TOLD YOU, I’m bad at cooking 🙂 If you ever wondered what sweet mac n’ cheese tastes like, message me lol. Meanwhile, my husband made an amazing pulled pork and beef roast with potatoes. He’s definitely the cook and master chef in this relationship 😉

Keene, New Hampshire

We also did a bit more shopping week two in Keene, New Hampshire. It’s a town full of every store you would ever need (and the scariest roundabout or “rotary” I’ve ever been through). From Target and Ulta to Petco and TJ Maxx, it has just about everything you’d need. I got my favorite self tanners and a new foundation from Ulta and couldn’t have been more excited to discover one just 20 minutes from us. I honestly worry about ordering anything to be shipped to us with being there temporarily and it being a small town. My husband and I both bought a couple of things from TJ Maxx as we continued to learn about what we remembered to pack for our first month in New England. We also stopped by a thrift store where I got a Red Sox jersey for $10 and a GORGEOUS London Fog trench coat for $10. Loving the thrifting life here!

MacLaomainn’s Scottish Pub in Chester, Vermont

For a new place to work remotely, we chose to visit MacLaomainn’s Scottish Pub in Chester, VT. It was SO CUTE. The place is very authentic and the owner is originally from Scotland – sporting a kilt and his Scottish accent. They had amazing Scottish beers on tap and quite a few Scottish dishes, including haggis. I personally will never try haggis, not only because I’m pescatarian, but it just sounds like too much to handle in one dish.

The Boston Marathon


I actually headed down to Boston in our second week to see my friend Emily run! I hadn’t seen her since my wedding in October of 2017, so it was LONG overdue to see her anyway. I rented a private room Airbnb in Belmont, MA and met up with her husband, family and friends on Marathon Monday to watch her race. We left their Airbnb around 8:20 to head into Boston to watch her, grabbing a spot at Trident Booksellers & Cafe. It was right near the 26-mile marker, just before the corner to the finish line. I went to the Boston Marathon in 2010 to watch someone race and can’t believe what has changed since then (aside from the fact I was using a point and shoot camera to take photos – THAT IS SO WEIRD TO THINK ABOUT)!

First, and probably most obviously, the security was extremely ramped up. You had to have your purse and belongings inspected at any entry point across the area we were watching. They then put an “INSPECTED” tag on your bag. If you left and came back, you had to go through the line again. Sad to think about the reason why, but I could feel the pride and strength of Bostonians during this race. 

Additionally, there is now an amazing app where you can track people running in the race. Aside from my friend Emily, someone from my hometown of Cedar Falls, Iowa was running and is good friends with my sister/brother-in-law, so I was able to cheer him on as well! I felt bad because I was cheering so loudly that he looked back to see who was cheering for him and probably thinking “What the heck?” but I hope it was a good feeling to have someone there at the end cheering in person.


It was overall an amazing day. I have a hard time fathoming how people actually do this race. A. What time you have to get to even qualify for this race and B. Just hearing how difficult the course is. I LOVE running – but I’m a three- to four-mile max type of person. So, I’m amazed at people not only running 26.2 miles but hitting these insane times.

Also, just watching how wonderful humanity is…. at one point, someone completely froze up and couldn’t go any further. He stopped and was stretching to try to get his legs moving again. A few minutes later, two guys came from behind and picked him up and start moving him up the hill. Literally teared up so many times. The Boston Marathon is one of those days where you are reminded of HOW AMAZING HUMANITY is. I can’t lie that many days I question humanity, but that day was a great reminder of all that is good and wonderful in this world. Nothing more exciting than cheering on these powerful, strong athletes all the way to the finish line.

Other than that, I had a chill couple of nights in Belmont, eating at a local pizza restaurant and enjoying the beauty of Boston and the blooming trees. I may have or may have not teared up about how excited I am to be a newbie to New England and starting our journey in Boston next month. I told my husband – “I can’t believe we get to live here!”

New Signs/Wording Differences

There wasn’t really anything new that I didn’t already speak to in my first post, but I did see a TON of Moose signs to and from my drive to Boston. I just think it’s hilarious that even in the same state some signs say “Moose”, some say “Moose, Be Alert” and some just have a picture of a moose. I’m just going to be aware of moose anytime I’m driving in New England from now on 😉


And that’s about all for week two! We definitely spent quite a bit of time working and doing some behind the scenes blog items, forming a pipeline of brands to work with for the blog and a pipeline of companies my husband plans to contact for his business. We will be ramping up my blog, even more, when we get to the Boston area – where we will hopefully have better cell reception and wireless connection 😉

Thank you, as always, for stopping by! I hope you’ve been enjoying my recaps so far about our new journey. I will be sharing a week three recap soon, as well as sharing A LOT more about Boston once we’re there – so stay tuned. You can also follow our moving hashtag #612to617 for more on our move, from the very beginning of announcing it. Enjoy the rest of your week! xoxo, Rachel

boston boston blogger east coast east coast blogger living in vermont massachusetts moving to massachusetts moving to new england new england new england blogger

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  1. 2019: A Year in Review says:
    January 3, 2020 at 1:34 PM

    […] once we got there. So we started our new adventure in New England in April. After a month in Vermont, we headed to South Shore and began exploring Boston. I also answered “Why Boston?” in […]

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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!...

* I started a new job in November! I’m excited to be back at a software company and looking forward to the day I get to meet some of my co-workers in person! 💻💃🏼
* 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! 🤗
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#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
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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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