Tone Up While You Work!

"I don't have time to work out"


I hate that statement. I really believe that if you are truly committed you can always find the time to squeeze in some sort of work out, no matter what the schedule. Growing up I have always had a busy lifestyle. In high school I took AP classes, did shows at school while I was doing community theatre, and then when I wasn't doing that, I was cheerleading. And when I went to college, I went to a pretty intensely scheduled performing arts academy. So over the years I've figured out a few tricks to squeeze in work outs whenever I can. Often times my work outs are spread out throughout the day, because I don't have the time to have one hour long work out. So, on the days that my schedule doesn't allow, I do stuff like this...

1. The brush teeth crunch. No really. Every night when I am brushing my teeth to go to bed, I do crunches. It may seem kinda silly, but hey! I get at least 50 or 60 crunches in before I have to spit =)

2. Bathroom calf raises. Every time you go to the bathroom, do calf raises while you wash your hands! I also do this while I'm washing my face!

3. This one I haven't tried yet, but I saw it on a website and I wanna do it next time I have laundry to fold. Instead of sitting while you fold, do a wall sit. Eeek! Talk about motivation to get those socks done fast!

4. Stair it. Always chose the stairs! Ok ok, sometimes the elevator is tempting. But really, unless you are about to be late for a meeting, then use those legs! I have stairs in my house, and I NEVER, no really I mean never, walk up them. I run up them every time. Ok so it's no half marathon. But its SOMETHING

Ok. None of those were ground breaking. But really, doing some crunches here and there during the day, or running up a few flights of stairs will make a difference, even if it is just a teeny one. The main thing is that it reminds you to be active. An active lifestyle, is a healthy one =) So let's MOVE!

VLOG Alert! First Song Cover-Eek!

DIY: Add a Little Color to your Life!

I was in a decorating mood recently, and I was getting real tired of the only color in my room besides the green walls being purple. I needed something bright, fun, and vibrant! So I decided to DO IT MYSELF and add some color. The first thing I did were these awesome jars! A couple of them are mason jars from Joann's, but the others are old spaghetti sauce or jelly jars that I just washed out...

A little acrylic paint on the INSIDE of the jars...and voila! I loved the way all the colors turned out. Most of them I mixed to make just the right shade I wanted. So cute, so functional, and so easy. I also sprayed a little clear spray paint on the inside of them after they were dry to help protect them.

And onto my desk...which needed some serious sprucing. So, some new knobs from Anthropologie's sale bucket for only 3 bucks a piece...



And some sanding and yellow spray paint on an old dingy kitchen chair...



And I'm instantly cheerful every time I look at my desk =)

The last project was the easiest, and cheapest of them all...I got some frames from the dollar store...


Poor ugly little frames...A little acrylic paint that I already had, (I mixed some custom colors for that too) and...



Beautiful, colorful frames to show off my adventures, and loved ones! So...get to it! Is your room feeling drab? Nothing a little paint and some imagination wont fix ;)

Awesome Beach Hike, Adventure No. 6!!

"So, Summer, I have an idea. How 'bout you just never end...cuz I need more days like today. K thanks" =)

Today was an awesome day at the beach with my friends Brian and Caleb. Uh Brian...I guess you are the most adventurous person I know cuz...so far you are winning by a landslide. Anybody else wanna compete? Let's go have an adventure together =)

The day started with a trip to Neptune's Net for some grub, the we went to Pt Magu and spent some time on the beach. The water was cold...but a nice break from this crazy humid weather we have been having lately!



After that Brian suggested we go for a hike, he warned me it was pretty intense...but I was stoked to go =) And actually it was kinda an intense hike, but sooo fun and worth it. I just had to not think about the fact that if my foot or fingers slipped I would fall to my death. =) First we had to shimmy sideways on this crazy wall by our tip toes and fingertips...


Yeah see the side of that? We were just kinda clinging to it for dear life and shimmied on over =)
And then there were the balance beam moments...



But man, they were worth the views!




We even saw some pretty cool fossils...



And met some new friends...



I had never touched a sea anemone before! It was so cool how they suction cupped themselves to your fingers! I liked to think of it as their way of shaking hands. I introduced myself to as many of them as possible. =)

It was such a fun day. And I was so proud of myself after this hike! Brian even said I was one of the most willing people he had ever taken on this hike! I felt very brave =)

You know looking at all of God's amazing creation really makes me think...what a considerate God we have. In the last few months God has given me SO many reminders and cool opportunities to show me his love, provision, and that He is my ultimate source of joy. Really, He is the greatest adventurer of them all. I can't wait to continue to honor the fact that I'm made in His image and be the best adventurer I can be.

LA Art Walk, Adventure No, 5!

Hey Guys!

I'm here with my next adventure today...No 5! (Look at me go!) This last week my good friend Laura and I (also my awesome biking partner!) went to downtown LA to experience the Art Walk. This was something both of us have literally wanted to do for years...and never had. Why do people do that? Well no more! We went, and had an awesome time!



See, look how happy we are! =)

This was a day full of lot's of laughs, and new inside jokes. We definitely met some...interesting people and saw some...interesting art. =) A lot of it, however, was pretty awesome!

And when your walking in downtown, there is always something interesting to see.








This amazing spot we found completely by accident after riding the Angels Flight Railway. (Which was so adorable) It's the "Shortest Railway in the World" and dates back to 1901. 50 cents, and you've got a ride! After our ride we were on top of the Water Plaza, and amazing outdoor show venue that has free performances all summer...how awesome is that? Next adventure? Yes please. =)


We found this amazing art outside by accident as well. Oh the things you find when you're wandering around downtown LA at night. I even made a friend.


If you guys ever get a chance to, you've gotta go down to the art walk. There is tons of awesome art to see, food and drinks to have, outdoor shops to look at, people to meet, and places to explore! I'm so glad I finally did what I said I wanted and had this great experience!

DIY ART! (Bucket List Item #1 down!)

Hey guys!

It's been awhile since I posted, I know. But I was on our high school's summer camp with all the students this last week. I had a great time on the DELTA! It was great to try new things, relax, connect with the girls, and rough it!

While I have always been a pretty outgoing person, I definitely need my "me" time to refresh me. So after a week of being surrounded by a hundred people with no where to hide (no offense guys, you're all awesome) I had a nice evening in last night. It was just me, some music, and a lot of paint! It was glorious =)

I've been wanting to replicate this picture I saw on pinterest for a while now. So I finally tackled it. The point was to not spend any money, so while this inspiration piece has four canvases, I accomplished a similar look using just two.

INSPIRATION:


Pretty, Huh? So I rolled up my sleeves, and gave it a go! Here is my version...



TA DA!! What do you guys think? I was so happy to get this done finally. And what makes me even more happy...I put doing this painting on my bucket list! (I needed some things that I could do right away with my budget on there) So I can now go to my wall and take one item off! Woo hoo!

Pretty in Pink

Pretty in Pink by rachelbalich featuring wedge shoes

Adventure No. 4!

So today I got to have a really fun adventure. A bunch of us from church went down to Santa Monica and biked the boardwalk. It was SUCH a pretty day outside! The sun finally broke through later in the afternoon, but the whole day it was warm, and I was by the ocean...so I was happy!

I was happy already just being on my way!


So I was READY to go! I had my little hat...and I had my cute romper on from Target (thanks, Mom) and I rented my bike...and then I leaned over to my friend Laura and told her something that I haven't told may people...

"I never learned how to ride a bike without training wheels as a kid..."

I know...I'm all sortsa embarrassed about it. Sure I wobbled around on one a few times when I HAD to as a kid...but since I was never taught, I sorta just said "forget this!" and put my roller blades on. So, I was slightly nervous that I wasn't gonna do as well as I would hope.

Oh my goodness.
That is pitiful.
And so embarrassing.
But true.

So I had avoided bike riding moments until now...but not anymore! I'm tired of not doing things now just because I had never done them as a kid. May be a bike ride doesn't sound that adventurous to you, even now as I type, it sounds kinda silly. But that's ok.

Long story short...I got the hang of it...sorta. I fended for myself for about half the way...then my awesome friend Laura asked if I wanted to ride tandem. She had never done it before and wanted to try. It was so fun! We were cracking up the entire way about what a cute "couple" we made.

And let me tell you...when it comes to riding tandem in the back...I've got skills ;)



Aren't we cute? =) After our ride we walked to Tender Greens where I had the most amazing meal (complete with a to die for cupcake) in the world. And don't even get me started on their lemonade!



Poundcake cupcake with blackberry frosting? My day/life was complete.

So there was my adventure for the day...may be nothing too grand, but I got out, I did, I experienced. And I now have a new mission...get really good on a bike...because it was so fun! (not to mention this post is just a little too embarrassing =) Adventure No. 5...here we come!

OOTD: Casual Feminine

What do you guys think of this look?
The shirt was one of my garage sale finds! Its Forever21 brand.
The shorts were a steal a few summer's back at Ross.
The shoes are from Target
The bracelet is Forever 21 as well.
Some stud flower earrings and a top knot and I was all feminine, all the way! What do you think?

The Men in My Life

Earlier today I was planning out all the many blog posts I have in my brain to share with you all. And it dawned on me, that here I am telling you all about myself and my adventures, and I barely even dive into one of my main sources of support in my life. The men in my life.










My dog, Linus, and my cat, Fox. Why, what did you think I meant?
Now I already did a blog way back when introducing you to Linus, so if you would like to see his baby pictures, scroll on back. But for now, I'll just show him to you as he is. BIG =) Now, to some, Linus may give off a different impression than he means to. (He's very protective of my family and I. We call ourselves his "peeps"). But even though when he barks he may sound like he wants to have you for dinner...


He really is just a big softy. If puppies had a school picture, this next one would be Linus'

In all seriousness though, I LOVE this dog. To sound incredibly cliche, he has seen me through a lot of hard times. Whenever I'm upset, he knows. If I start to cry, he rushes up to me, licks the tears off my face, and sits with me. One time I was really sick, he started laying toys next to me on the couch. Usually if he wants to play he holds the toy in his mouth and begs. But this time, he just began setting them next to me one by one. He would set a toy down, lick my face, and walk away. By the end of the day I had all of his toys. What a generous little guy =)

Then along came Fox. Now, Fox isn't technically my kitty. He actually belongs to a friend, but he has been living at my house for around 9 months now....so he is sort of like my foster child. Regardless...I'm his mommy. =)As soon as Fox and Linus warmed up to each other, they were inseparable...

Fox's favorite pastime is being under, or in things...




When he was just a couple of months old, he was a TOTAL cuddler. He slept in my arms the whole night! =) So cute. Now that he is older he is a bit more independent, but he still likes sleeping in my bed. Which I don't mind at all! I mean who WOULD mind waking up to this hunk every morning?

I'm so glad I got to introduce to you to these stud muffins. Who are the most important furry members of your family?

ABRACADABRA! Adventure No. 3

I love it when an adventure calls for dressing up, don't you? That's why I was SO excited when my friend Brian asked me to come with a group of friend's to the MAGIC CASTLE in Hollywood. If you know anything about the Magic Castle, then you know it is a very exclusive club, and you can only get in if you are a member, or are a guest of one. Needless to say I was pretty excited. I've always loved magic. As a kid I had a magic kit that came with a book, cards, a wand, etc. I walked around the house doing "tricks" for my family. I'm sure I had some exceedingly clever name like "The Great Rachel." =)

I was also so excited because I had an excuse to wear the dress I scored at my friend's garage sale for $5! (Plus the shoes I bought from her too!)

I looove this dress. I even got compliments from women I didn't know at the Magic Castle on it! Score!

I paired it with a purse of my mom's that had a vintage feel that I felt really went with this look. Slap on some garage sale heels and a rose pearl bracelet from Forever 21 and I was good to go!

I can't wait to try this dress for another event. A friend of mine suggested cowboy boots for a more casual event. How about a night out at the Malibu Winery, or something like that? Ok. =)
The only bummer thing was that we weren't allowed to take pictures inside. So I scored a bathroom shot once I got the chance =)

My friend Lauren said the bathroom made her feel like she was in Moulin Rouge. I couldn't agree more! What girl doesn't like light bulbs around a mirror, I mean...really?
I took a few shots before we went in. My friend Katie and I, the outside of the Castle, (which doesn't even begin to do it justice, this place is to die for beautiful inside) and all the ladies outside the door. Don't mind my awkward pose in that one haha.




I had SO much fun at the Magic Castle. I even reached my one and only goal for the whole night...I got called on and got to participate in a magic trick! (Which completely BLEW MY MIND!) If I'm ever really really wealthy...may be I'll be a member and go, oh I dunno, every two days or so ;)

Adventure No. 3...you might be my favorite yet. On to the NEXT!