Hi, I'm Rachel.

A few years ago I could barely boil water.

True story.

Determined to be a kick ass wife, I developed a love for football and learned to cook in my tiny Jersey City kitchen. I spend my days working in Manhattan, my nights and weekends chasing after a rambunctious toddler, and the hours in between cooking with my husband and feeding my TV habit...oh, and I blog about it all! 

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The Pantry

Entries from September 1, 2014 - September 30, 2014

Thursday
Sep042014

One More Trip

Tonight we are leaving for our annual trip to Lewes, Delaware, and our final trip for not only the summer, but likely the rest of the year. Though Labor Day traditionally signifies the end of summer, we always head down to Lewes the following weekend and so, to me, this weekend will truly be summer's end. We've done a lot of traveling this summer, but this is really one of my favorite trips. It's just a car ride away, clocking in at 3.5 hours, and my hope is that Penelope will sleep most of the way while Shaun and I indulge in car snacks and enjoy hours of music.

Tomorrow, we'll wake up bright and early, food shop, enjoy the bay and await the rest of the group's arrival. We have a few other things on the menu for this weekend (like seafood, sunsets, breweries and boardwalks) but mostly, I'm excited to spend a few days with my little family and friends.

I'll be posting Five Things tomorrow, so I hope you come on back for that! Have a great Thursday!

 

Wednesday
Sep032014

8 Reasons I'm Ready to Say Sayonara to Summer

 

Though it's never felt more summery than it has this week (90 degree temps! sunshine! sweat!) and the summer doesn't technically end for a few more weeks, I know that so many people are lamenting the end of summertime. There's just something about summer, isn't there? It's as though time stops and life stands still if only to enjoy an evening glass of wine at sunset or to chase down the local ice cream truck. These simple delights are what make summer so desirable. And while I'll miss those days of wine and water tables, there are lots of things that I won't miss about the summer. So I'm going to focus on that.

1. For to stop all the sweating. Or at least do a little less sweating.

It's no secret that I am irritable in the heat. I sweat. A lot. It's uncomfortable. I could go on and on but I'll spare you. Let's just say that I'm psyched to hopefully not be sweated through my undergarments and clothing before I arrive at the office in the morning.

2. I can finally get a hair cut

I've been letting my hair grow for quite some time. I debated a really short hair cut in the early summer days, but decided to keep letting it grow so that it could easily be worn wet and curly or pulled into a ponytail.

3. I can put away those summer prints.

Look. I love pretty dresses, bright colors and bold summer prints as much as the next girl. I really do. But there comes a time when I just want to wear pants. And 90 degree heat is not that time.

4. The open-toed shoes can cease to exist for a while.

I'm a working Mom. Pedicures are pretty much the very last thing on my to-do list. I could go for a reprieve on having to show my tootsies.

 

5. I'm on the verge of a cheeseburger & hot dog overload and it ain't pretty.

We have grilled so much this summer and it's so appealing to just drop a few things on the grill on these warm summer nights when the desire to keep my kitchen clean beats my desire for dinner variety. It's a Dukan-er's dream, but I think I've had my fill for the season (though I will miss that sweet Jersey corn).

6. I'm tired of wearing sunscreen. And applying a virtual sunscreen paste to Penelope whenever we are outdoors.

I always wear SPF on my face...but I'm really over sunscreening my entire bod. And even more over the crazy Mom anxiety that my child is going to get scorched on a potential tiny square of skin that I missed with said sunscreen paste. Give a Mom a break.

 

 

7. I miss my fall TV shows!

We really didn't find a great summer show this year. We watched plenty of Justified and Orange is the New Black, but no truly awesome, new Sunday summer show. All of the TV will start in the coming weeks and I cannot wait! My beloved SOA returns on 9/9!

 

8. The return of red wine.

I find it really tough to enjoy red wine on a hot summer day. This summer, I've taken a liking to chilled rose, but nothing compares to a truly great glass of room temp Malbec in my opinion.

 

So that's why I'm ready for the fall to descend upon us. It's been real, Summer, but I'll see ya next year! 

Tuesday
Sep022014

School Daze

 

from top right: pretty, blank journals {target}; gelly roll metallic pens {sakura}; custom post-its {custom ink}; a fully loaded coffee card {dunkin' donuts}; casual but cool carry-all {the strand}; skull pocket tissue holder {dolphinblue on etsy}; bento lunch box {laptop lunches}; apple-scented hand sanitizer {bath & body works}; perfectly personalized hot/cold cup {tervis tumbler}

 

I can't believe September is here. Labor Day fell so early this year and it doesn't quite feel like summer's end, especially since it's forecasted to hit 90 degrees today.

Though Penelope already started her 'school' year, I know this week is a big one for sending those kiddos back to school. Or perhaps you're a student and are already back. Or a teacher prepping to leave your glorious summer vacation behind. Regardless of your place in life this week, I think we can all agree that there is certainly some excitement in the air for the new school year. And while I'm neither a teacher nor student, I can't help but get jazzed for school supplies. When I was a kid, I LOVED back to school shopping. And as an adult, I continue to appreciate the treasure of a really great, smooth-writing pen or a new, blank notebook with a pretty cover, just begging for to-do lists and creative ideas. Though I'm not starting a new school year, I wouldn't mind amping up my own supplies to start fresh and fuel my own excitement for the work day ahead, possibilities bursting with the right tools at hand. 

What are your back to school must-haves?


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