Rachael Fights Back

From Minnesota to Colorado just because. Please join me in my awkwardness as I've lost 95 pounds and become a 3x marathoner. Must enjoy selfies, photos of my food, and the occasional gif.

[rachaelfightsback]

Hello? Is this thing still on?

It’s been a long time, Tumblr fam! I’m not gonna lie and say I wasn’t sad when I just kind of stopped posting, but teaching and life took over and then 2020 happened. Goodness… I can’t believe it’s been that long.

But guess what - We bought a house, got married, rescued a pup, and had two kids (a sweet three year old boy and a social one year old girl)! I also resigned from teaching once we were ready to start trying for our second and have been a stay at home mom now for almost two years.

I’m not running anymore and have strayed from my fitness journey postpartum, but I’m slowly getting back to it in other ways! I actually wanted to post on here in case some of you want to follow along on my Instagram where I share about motherhood and life.

You can find me over there @ rachcreateshome and see what else I’ve been up to!

www.instagram.com/rachcreateshome

I hope everyone is finding joy in the day to day!

[rachaelfightsback]

We ate pizza and watched Hocus Pocus tonight.

10/10 would recommend. We also lit a fall candle and all of it was just perfect.

Things are going well this week and we are about to have a four day weekend! I think this is the first time the district has given us a fall break and I am so excited. I am ready for some relaxing, some reading, Target, and maybe a bit of my to-do list (with music playing, of course, and comfy pants).

[rachaelfightsback]

5k yesterday and 10k today! Yay! This weekend also included good friends, yummy food, and naps.

All of me needed a weekend like this.

Happy Sunday!

[rachaelfightsback]

It’s about to be 50 degrees colder, but my students did some planting a few weeks ago (mostly beans) and they are growing like mad! I love seeing their excitement when something new has happened and having plants in our classroom rocks. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3auJycnxd5/?igshid=y8333gck82a3

[rachaelfightsback]

Hot Chocolate 5k today with my favorite person! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

The start was chilly and there were people everywhere, but we had a good time! It’s crazy to think that I have been involved with this race since 2013. I was a volunteer that year since I had only lived here for a month. We didn’t register yet for 2020, but I’m sure we will be there. Woohoo!

[rachaelfightsback]

Anyone use a weighted blanket?

This has been on my wishlist all year and today I found one on clearance!

I am in bed with it on right now and so far it feels amazing. A quick Google search will show you that they can help with sleep, stress, anxiety, and mood.

This post is random, but I am excited and curious.

[rachaelfightsback]

👋🏻👋🏻 Hi again! I have been creeping, but September was occupied with lots of events and teacher things.

In between all of it, we found time for a bit of running^^^, some weekend exploring, the farmers market, and the coolest of them all - I finally paid off my car and got the title! Now it’s just my student loans (and the condo, but that’s different).

10/10 would recommend tackling debt.

I suppose overall things are good! I didn’t share elsewhere though that this month kind of sucked. I was stressed to the max and there was a lot of crying because teaching this year started out really rough. I was working too much and barely staying above water, so I have taken a step back and am trying to be better about balance.

I miss posting on here, but I am hopeful that this balance thing will actually work out and I can share more.

Happy Saturday!

[rachaelfightsback]

I fell today at work. Like hardcore, hit the ground with my hands and knees. I cried and was shaking, but thankfully nothing seems actually injured.

I have worked almost 60 hours this week and will be working this weekend, too. Please send help. We have conferences next week that I need to finish preparing for and I didn’t get a chance to do any lesson planning yet.

We had meetings everyday after school, some before school, and some during my plan time. Monday and Wednesday were actually district meetings until 8pm. I feel grateful for the leadership opportunity and I am being recognized by principals and district officials, but the exhaustion is real.

There were many joyous moments this week though and that is what I am focusing on to keep myself pushing.

Plus coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.

[rachaelfightsback]

This week we have been enjoying all the yummy meal prep! The special thing here though is that most of it was package free. I used reusable produce bags, I shopped from the bulk bins, and I made things from scratch. Quinoa was made with homemade vegetable broth, which is so easy to make. I will actually freeze the corn instead of buying cans or bags of it, and use the cobs to make even more broth! I also made almond milk and will use the leftover pulp to make savory crackers. I love finding new ways to cook and utilize every last bit. #lesswaste https://www.instagram.com/p/B2HYx0Qnk02/?igshid=1mo1xhs7uu6l8

[rachaelfightsback]

One of my students felt sick today, but he stayed positive all day and tried his best to keep working. Although he didn’t have a fever, you could just tell he was feeling off. I called his mom after school to tell her I was proud of him because this is a student who constantly missed days last year (this is his second year with me).

She told me she knew he wasn’t feeling well, but that HE said he didn’t want to miss school. She said he wanted to be there with our class. This student used to extremely shy and wouldn’t speak up for himself. He’s still shy, but already this year I have seen him being a role model, volunteering, and laughing and interacting with his peers.

I love that I sometimes get to have a student two years in a row because at this age, I get to see a ton of changes happen. He’s so much more mature and slowly making progress.

These are the moments that make me take a breath and remember how great teaching can be.

[rachaelfightsback]

Broncos 7k! ☀️🔥

It’s nearly 100 degrees out today, but we finished and my sunscreen mostly worked!

This was a great way to begin September and it felt good to run a slightly longer distance. Lately we have just been doing a tiny 1-2 miles.

Happy Sunday!

[rachaelfightsback]

👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻

I’m still here! Just been busy doing all of the things and enjoying the relaxing moments when I can. Tonight that meant family dinner at a yummy restaurant and then a quick jaunt into Lowe’s. Happy Saturday! 💗

[rachaelfightsback]

The first week of school rocked and I celebrated by sleeping for TWELVE hours last night. A former student gave me this note and seriously, kids are just the best! https://www.instagram.com/p/B1SOayMH16G/?igshid=1f77vrjthe4vh

[rachaelfightsback]

It was the first day of school and I still worked out at 9:30pm.

My entire body hurts, but today rocked and my workout was honestly one of the best ones yet!

Two things about the first day - they didn’t want to go home and one of my boys said this was his best first day ever. 💗💗💗

More on teaching later though because I need every minute of sleep I can get.

[rachaelfightsback]

I was outside for less than 45 minutes on Friday, much of which was under a canopy, and yet I still got burned. Those tan lines are from my lanyard!

This is me reminding myself to bring a hat and some sunscreen to work. I have been trying to be careful, but this is definitely a piece of advice I wish I had taken more seriously years ago.

[rachaelfightsback]

Recent haul from the farmers market 💗 Locally grown and in season for only $15.30! https://www.instagram.com/p/B1CREhmHP6a/?igshid=eyap1btzifv

[rachaelfightsback]

Currently obsessed with this duo!

Built Bar is a relatively new company, but they have been amazing and offer the most delicious chocolate protein bars. I seriously think they taste like a candy bar and are not protein-y at all (that’s a word)! They are coated in chocolate and the inside is soft and fluffy? I think that is the best way I can explain them. I am loving them and look at those macros. 110 cals with 15g of protein is crazy awesome.

I realized I have a referral for 10% off if you are interested. My favorite flavors are coconut, banana, and the mint ones.

Regardless of if you use my referral or not, I had been meaning to talk about these because they are such a treat!

Unlike all the other bars out there that taste either like old playdough or a piece of cardboard, when you eat a Built Bar, you will think y