STRENGTH+Sole » On the Road

Finding Love and Six-Pack Abs

Rachel — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 14:11:18 +0000

Pretty pumped.
So, I’m engaged. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of making plans, meeting with vendors and packing boxes (we’re also moving to a new apartment). My future hubs is the love of my life (and a hunk who works out every day!), so, needless to say, I’m thrilled. The actual wedding and all of the things that inevitably come along with it have me a little frazzled.

This past weekend, we took a timeout and traveled to Cape Cod to celebrate our friends Jenna and Dan’s wedding. From biking the Shining Sea Highway to strolling the sidewalks in small, sleepy towns, it was the perfect place to relax and recharge. Plus, Lilly Pulitzer galore!

Here, a few photos from our sporty seaside fun.

Now back in the city, I’ve set my workout routine into motion. I’m psyched to be training with Kelvin Gary and his team at Body Space Fitness. After having written a blog post about Kelvin’s real-life, science-driven methodology and his 14th Street studio, I’ve always felt that it would be the ultimate place to get in shape for what will be a very special day. I’ve committed myself to looking and feeling my best. In fact, I’m striving to see six-pack abs for the first time in my life. When I walk down the aisle, I’ll be 36 and my wedding day is a moment that I always hoped would arrive, though there were points along the way that I wasn’t so sure.

They say that, in New York, you’re always looking for a job, a guy or an apartment. Over the years, I’ve searched for all, often at the same time. The funny thing is that while I was out there trying to find those things, I also found myself.

Can’t wait to share more from my weekly workouts with you.

Featured image on homepage by Marc Jacobson Photography.

Carnival

Rachel — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 16:35:40 +0000

Yesterday was one of the most beautiful fall days that I can remember. Sunny, warm and not a cloud in the sky. It was the perfect chance to get outside. I took a trip to the ‘burbs for a festival overflowing with kettle corn, carnival rides and lots of fun and games.

My look? Preppy chic. Levi’s paired with a lavender cashmere sweater, sparkly gold flats and oversized Jackie O.-style shades.

Do you live in jeans? If so, check out Levi’s Mid Rise Skinny–with the perfect amount of stretch, you’ll actually feel like you’re in leggings…because we should all have as much fun as we can.

Product provided by Levi’s c/o Women’s Health. #LiveinLevis
All thoughts/assessments are my own.

Taking One for the Team

Rachel — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 00:42:07 +0000

A September update.
A few weeks ago, I had a lot of fitness plans. New studios to review, interesting classes to take (cardio, yoga and therapy, all in one hour? Sign. Me. Up.) and voilà: lots to share on STRENGTH+Sole. Then, I went away for my birthday (wine country!), accepted a new job (social media!) and have been nesting with friends and family on weekends (babies!), and things have gone a little off course–in a totally good way. But, all the while, I admit, I’ve been asking myself, “What am I going to write?!”

So, instead of saying nothing and waiting for my next class, I’ll say this: sometimes, being part of a team, whether as a couple, a colleague or a family member, trumps being leader of the pack.

Here are a few shots of what I’ve been up to lately and don’t worry, the sweat-meets-shrink session is still happening. Stay tuned.

Not a bad way to toast the bday, no?

I’ve been live Tweeting and Instagramming from our fall fashion and shopping events. This is a branding statement which I firmly stand behind.

And, a busy schedule means squeezing in my favorites right in the neighborhood: FlyWheel’s Chelsea studio and late night strolls on The High Line’s newly-opened section 3.

More soon!

And, tell me: how do you juggle work, life, fitness and family?

I Did Eat That

Rachel — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 01:51:46 +0000

By now, everyone has probably heard about the Instagram handle “You Did Not Eat That,” which calls out fashion bloggers, models and other generally beautiful people posing with the macarons, cupcakes and ice cream cones that they “supposedly” ate for breakfast, on the beach, with friends. Did they actually consume it? Couldn’t tell you. But, the truth is, people just love to look at, take photos of and talk about food. So, I’ve gathered some of my favorite food & drink shots from this summer for your viewing pleasure. Some of it’s healthy, some less so–but, that’s cool. My motto about most things these days is “You only go around once,” so, a little of anything sweet or salty is okay, right?

Plus, stay tuned for a slew of new studio and product reviews. I’ll be sweating it out nearly every day over the next few weeks, all for me (and you).

Cooling off with a watermelon ice pop by La Newyorkina during a Friends of The High Line tour.

Nathan’s hot dog at Yankees Stadium (Jeter!).

Prosecco with liqueur-infused People’s Pops–BEST summer cocktail ever…enjoy one (or two) yourself at Loopy Doopy (yes, that’s the bar’s actual name) downtown.

THE most amazing lobster roll (at The North Fork Table & Inn Lunch Truck) and freshly-picked heirloom tomatoes from a local farm stand.

And, my favorite ice cream cone (so far) from Gott’s Roadside in San Francisco.

Show me your summer #foodporn pics too!

Working on Your Fitness

Rachel — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 00:38:42 +0000

These days, you don’t have to be a fitness instructor to fit in an afternoon sweat session. From traditional and social media to investment banking, some companies are embracing the trend with in-house facilities, instructors, greenmarkets and general health & wellness testing.

At my office, there’s theClub, a pay-for-play gym with a full class schedule and full-time instructors, a greenmarket in the cafeteria on Wednesdays and blood pressure testing around the clock. The new meaning of “stress test”? My boyfriend’s company goes even further, offering a standard “uniform” (tee, shorts, socks and undergarments) for guys and girls who forget their clothes (or just hate doing laundry), in addition to equipment and personnel. They also sponsor race registration and help make it all happen with post-training parties and transportation to and from out-of-town destinations.

While out on the west coast, I toured Clif Bar’s HQ and took an insider peek at how the (lucky) crew behind my favorite energy bars make the most of their workdays–and make a difference in the community.

The Clif Bar athletes’ wall offers gym-goers a little last-minute motivation. I mean, if they can do it…

Bored with your cardio or weight training routine? There’s always rock climbing.

A conference room overlooks the garden with employee bike “parking.” (Even bikes are zen here.)

Look up and you’ll see more bikes…

…plus, skis and snowboards.

Coffee (or a puzzle break?) to spark afternoon creativity.

And, community: employees are encouraged to volunteer on company time for causes that they care about (provided that their office work is done). Onward and upward.

How do you make time to work out before, during or after work? And, what health & wellness benefits does your company offer or would you like to see at your office?

Lighthearted

Rachel — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 22:05:57 +0000

Sitting on 200 acres near the Napa and Sonoma County line, deep in California wine country, you’ll find Scribe Winery. With a picturesque view and a pair of California hipsters at the helm, the winery employs a practice called “Forever Wild Farming,” integrating their cultivation of the land with its natural ecosystem.

It was the perfect setting to have some fun in relaxed pieces by Nancy Rose, a former nationally ranked elite gymnast turned Parsons graduate. Having studied design in Rome, Rose’s collection focuses on high quality fabrics, not flashy prints, combined with fit and flexibility. It’s a fashionable toast to excellence–at the barre, on the treadmill and in our favorite yoga poses.

Keyhole Short Sleeve Tee in Sea, Odyssey Tank in Scarlett and Plank Crop in Black, all by Nancy Rose Performance.

Product provided by Nancy Rose Performance.
All thoughts/assessments are my own.

Drink It Up

Rachel — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 22:10:37 +0000

If you’re many years past college and have a handful of people outside your family who remember you from way back, you’re lucky. In my case, those people might recall my “trendy” middle school outfits including head-to-toe matching prints, french cuffs and Wigwam socks. They loved me with brown, frizzy hair and braces. They’ve seen me through bad boyfriends, sad breakups and shaky jobs; they’ve celebrated my special birthdays and supported the launch of my blog.

To toast 20+ years of friendship, we recently flew west for the Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon. It was a beautiful course, with only a few hills, from a winery to the Sonoma city square. Fueled by rosé wine, fresh food and hearty laughs, check out our 13.1 under the warm summer sun.

Our favorite wineries were Jordan in Healdsburg and Scribe in Sonoma. (In these photos, we are the embodiment of R&R.)

Warming up before dawn at Domaine Carneros in Napa. Hello, beautiful.

Peace, love and running at the start. I wore a New Balance tank and compression tights by Opedix, to reduce lactic acid build-up and resulting soreness the next day. Highly recommend.

And, my FitBit Flex! (It tracks everything from steps and calories to sleep cycle, for those of us who are super curious to see how things measure up–or, just need a little motivation.)

My time? 1 hour, 58 minutes.

So, here’s a toast to power in numbers. And, the power of one.

Compression tights (c/o Opedix); FitBit Flex (c/o Women’s Health Magazine & Target). #fitbitflex
All thoughts/assessments are my own.

Girl Power

Rachel — Tue, 27 May 2014 23:41:14 +0000

This weekend, we celebrated my cousin Carly’s college graduation. When she was a baby, I’d carry her around my grandparents’ house in a laundry basket, just for fun. As a school girl, we’d find her jumping up and down, screaming at the top of her lungs, “I love homework!” And, now, she’s interviewing for teaching jobs. I’m so excited for her next step.

The women in our family are decidedly Type A. There’s Carly, with her passion for homework and to-do lists, and her mom/my aunt who’s an immigration lawyer in Washington D.C. Plus, my mom, who exhibits great style and endless perfectionism when it comes to her job, home design and the curation of our holiday dinner menus.

And me: what I lacked in basic math skills, athleticism derived from my DNA and a high school sweetheart, I’ve more than made up for in after-hours tutoring, torturous high school track practice and many JDates over the years. The flip side of this, something that we all share, is a fierce loyalty that you just can’t find in other family and friends. I believe that loving others well is an art form.

And, speaking of art, I also experienced Kara Walker’s “A Subtlety” at Domino in Williamsburg, in partnership with Creative Time.

We were inspired by the height of the sugar factory’s ceilings and the way that its walls of concrete and steel are caked with sugar and peeling from the heat.

And, the sculpture itself: 75 1/2′ tall by 35 1/2′ wide, constructed from blocks of polyester foam and 40 tons of sugar, exploring “power, race, bodies, women, sexuality, slavery, sugar refining, sugar consumption, wealth inequity, and industrial might that uses the human body to get what it needs no matter the cost to life and limb.” Read the curatorial statement here.

This exhibition, which runs through July 6, is a bittersweet must-see.

What’s inspiring you?

One Happy Island

Rachel — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 16:28:18 +0000

“Aruba, Jamaica…” The Beach Boys had it right. Aruba is my island, too–for sun, smoothies and water sports. Every January, my family spends a week with a core group of good friends who come from across the U.S. Slathered in SPF 70 (that’s me), it’s a time to catch up–kind of like an annual extended family bonding retreat. Here, a few of my favorite shots from our trip:

Stacked colorful bracelets, smoothies with fresh fruit, yoga on the beach…this place has my heart.

Brother/sister stand up paddle boarding…a collaborative sporting success.

And, the most beautiful sunset.

But, now back in NYC, I’m shivering right along with you! (Spring is coming soon, right?!)

Pura Vida {Part II}

Rachel — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 18:46:59 +0000

The key to making it through a transition (work, love, whatever) is often a quick change of scenery. Which is why my Costa Rica trip couldn’t have come at a better time. Digging out my Eagle Creek backpack, in storage since a post-college graduation tour of Europe, felt empowering, energizing and a little terrifying. Hidden behind the heels and the handbags, there it was, just waiting for the right time and my right state of mind.

Here, 5 favorite things on the journey: some carried from home and others brand new, discovered along the way.

Celestial, symbolic hoops by Satya (c/o). Sun: vitality, leadership and life. Moon: nourishment and protection. With sundresses and mini skirts, a pretty and hopeful pairing.

Hammocks: the best place to take a nap…ever. These were waiting for us at our hotel, La Cascada, in the hippie beach town of Montezuma. Take me back now.

Bumble and bumble hair products: travel-sized versions of my frizz-free essentials, straight blowdry balm (apply a quarter-sized dollop pre-blowout) and Bb. texture hair (un)dressing creme (for just air drying). Without these, all I have to do is step off the plane and my hair goes wild!

Morning smoothies from The Greenhouse (aka: my “Shake Shack”). The embodiment of Costa Rican living: daily concoctions of fresh fruit, veggies and ginger blended beachside by a laid-back, luscious guy who never stops smiling. Pura vida!

And, these guys. From Korea to Canada, Finland to the Flatiron. Here’s to international love.