In October, I ran for my life, as a terrorist in a truck plowed down people on a bike path near my home in Tribeca. I ran with a mass of people clutching my sweet pup Waffle under my arm. People ran into their homes nearby, but I unfortunately had nowhere to run. My home was 10…
I have always had anxiety. I didn’t know what it was for a long time. Looking back, it’s something I’ve struggled with most my life. But, I also have a very adventurous spirit. Juggling these two sides of myself has always been a challenge. When I graduated High School, I knew it was LA or New…
I went to Morocco a month ago. I had never been to a Muslim country before, and I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t a little afraid. But, as we arrived at the hotel, (one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever stayed), I walked out onto our deck and over a…
Hi my name is Rachel and I’m an “approval addict.” I measure my success based on what other people think of me, not what I think of myself. There it is. It all started when I was a child. Think about it, we’re all taught if we do something good, we’ll get praised and that praise feels good. For…
Japan stole my heart for many reasons. (1): There’s a principle the Japanese people live by, which roughly translates to: “Read the air.” What does this mean? Well, when you enter a social situation it’s your job to literally “read the air,” meaning if the room feels mellow, you don’t walk in loud and aggressive.…
Bangkok was the three day stop-over before the beach part of our honeymoon. The place to get over jet lag. I wasn’t that excited about Bangkok, because I’ve never heard any great reviews. You hear of sex trade, ‘ping pong shows,’ and drunk bachelor parties. Even when I posted on Facebook asking for tips, most people…
I worked in service as a bartender for over 10 years. I hated it and loved it at the same time. I loved being part of a person’s experience. I loved being able to create a surprise in a dinner. I loved turning a grumpy customer into a happy one or even a regular. An…
A year ago I subscribed to two magazines; Conde Nast and Travel & Leisure. I’m not really sure why to be honest. Maybe it was a secret voice pulling me to the unknown. It is funny what you put in the universe and how it circles back. So here we are on the eve before…
On New Years Eve, we took an Uber to Brooklyn for dinner with friends. My husband asked our driver, Mamadou, from Guinea “How was your 2016?” He laughed. “Best year yet! I married the love of my life.” I instantly smiled from ear to ear and said, “Us too.” He got super excited and…
I felt emotional after spending ten days with family and friends wrapping their arms around me, in celebration of my up-coming nuptials. The amount of love and kindness I received was overwhelming. I couldn’t help, but feel “Do I deserve all this?” I truly wanted to post #blessed everywhere, don’t worry I avoided the urge,…
