So so so excited to share the news! We are headed to beautiful Lake Atitlan, Guatemala for the next 3.5 months. We leave at the beginning of June and return in October. It is going to be a chance for us to be a family, live in a beautiful environment and relish in every moment… Continue reading It’s Official – We are Moving to Guatemala!
Author: rache
Guatemala, here we come!
There are moments in your life where suddenly it is defined by something larger than you. Kurt and I have always flown by the seat of our pants. We some how manage to spend out more than we make and not have debt, we have moved 5 times in Iza’s 1st year, live out… Continue reading Guatemala, here we come!
Spanish Harlem Living
There is something to be said for living in a hotel. Outside the sea of bodega’s, laughter and honking, inside a clean and magical space. Water pressure, outlets on every wall, etc. We are definitely not roughing it living in Spanish Harlem. We have a beautiful 3 bed, 2 bath apartment to end our Spring… Continue reading Spanish Harlem Living
The BrandFam Challenge Day 6 – Tamales!
After dropping Iza off at our nanny’s place on the Upper West Side I was walking home and spotted a huge bag of corn husks in a bodega window. Its was a chilly morning and everything was frozen over and I began to dream…a sunny day eating some Tamales with a margarita in a cafe… Continue reading The BrandFam Challenge Day 6 – Tamales!
At Home in Harlem
We are finally where we think we want to be. 🙂 You just simply never know with us, but for now we are really happy in Harlem. The commute is killer for me – just about 20 minutes on the train (door to door). We are close to Emily, Iza’s Nanny, and the streets are… Continue reading At Home in Harlem
Rache’s New Years Resolutions 2014
I have a million resolutions to institute, but only 1 that truly matters: to live. I have spent the last 32 years fighting the reality of fate and at 33, it is time to give in and let what is meant to be, to simply be. Who knows where I will be in a year… Continue reading Rache’s New Years Resolutions 2014
Moving to NYC: 1st Stop Crown Heights Brooklyn
Can you believe it? We move yet again. It is unreal that we have such luck…. Rache was on the train home from the City when our landlord called to tell her that his house that he currently lives in was sold and his girlfriend and he have not had luck finding an alternative. Glad… Continue reading Moving to NYC: 1st Stop Crown Heights Brooklyn
These are the Bin Years
I suppose it goes without saying that we are complicated, probably the most complicated friends or family that most people have in their address books. One of the benefits of being a creative is an open door to inhibition and the start of fearlessness. We don’t know where we will be tomorrow, but hey, we… Continue reading These are the Bin Years
Airbnb’ing it!
So, we have taken on a challenge! We decided on renting out our house through Airbnb.com to make a little extra cash and to meet some totally cool people. We had a chance to already rent out a room to Nanna Kold and her family from Copenhagen. Great experience! Well, very quickly our landlord decided he didn’t… Continue reading Airbnb’ing it!
We are Moving!
Welcome to 25 Henry Street, Beacon, NY 12508. Our new address, y’all! Before baby, when our landlord asked us what we thought we were going to be doing when our lease came up, we said, “We definitely are thinking to stay here. We love this place.” Within minutes of coming home from the hospital, we… Continue reading We are Moving!
Bell’s Palsy is Almost Kicked!
It is totally amazing that I have turned a Bell’s Palsy corner! As Iza came into the world, all the pushing burst capilaries in my right cheek and above my right eye. My face was slightly speckled for a day and then I started to see a change back in my smile. My right eye… Continue reading Bell’s Palsy is Almost Kicked!
Our First Week with Iza
For pictures, please scroll down! or check out her site: www.izabrand.com Well, we tried to get these up sooner, but I guess having a new baby is going to extend all our personal goals and timing a little! Right now in the early morning light with the rain falling buckets from the sky, Kurt is… Continue reading Our First Week with Iza
What We Have Learned…
We have really gone to the ends of earth to make sure that we were prepared for Iza’s arrival… although, it might be impossible to plan, we wanted to be as prepared as possible. I still got Bell’s Palsy at my 7th month mark, but that was an indication of the stress that my body… Continue reading What We Have Learned…
Introducing Iza Ruby Brand
Here are her stats: Iza Ruby Brand Birthdate: May 26, 2013 Time: 6:04am Weight: 7lbs 11oz Length: 21.5″
Glamour Shots in the City
It has certainly been the ride of a lifetime together over this past year. It is hard to imagine that this time last year we were merely friends and working towards our first cooking show together called “Cook it Raw” (we adjusted the name to what we have now, Racolife.com due to copyright reasons). We… Continue reading Glamour Shots in the City
32 Weeks… WOW!
What a day! Iza and I are totally and completely tuckered out. 5 appointments strong… there were moments when we thought it was going to last forever, but somehow we ALL managed. Our imaging specialist, Dr. Lascale said that we have a healthy, happy baby. The average size is roughly 3.75lbs right now, we are… Continue reading 32 Weeks… WOW!
Iza making her way into our home…
She is 2 months away, but it feels like already she is gracing us with her presence. Look what came in the mail today from the most wonderful mother-in-law ever! Love the color, design, everything… And it is so rockstar on our Quinny stroller. It is really very exciting to start looking around and seeing… Continue reading Iza making her way into our home…
What a Friday…
What a miraculous day and evening yesterday. We woke with the excitement and opportunistic intrigue of small children on the first day of school and ended the day laughing at the unbelievable course that the day presented to us. Truly a comical error of a day. It was if our lives were temporarily transformed into… Continue reading What a Friday…
On the Road… Kurt’s first Opening Week!
We are learning to love the act of letting go and seeing the work leave our possession. It is hard when we adore a piece as much as this one, “Travelers,” but it is time to let go. Wish us luck for Friday and Saturday… Friday night is Kurt’s event in NYC at the Flat… Continue reading On the Road… Kurt’s first Opening Week!
The Man of My Dreams
I am so lucky to have this guy on my side. Serenading me with music, keeping my desk always with flowers and just generally being the best husband, friend and partner I could imagine. I sometimes have to stop myself for a second and think back to every other relationship I have witnessed along… Continue reading The Man of My Dreams
The Act of Letting Go
It has been a hard couple of weeks for me. The above is a testament to my sleepless night and my shear frustration over all the physical changes. If I lay on my back the baby kicks as though she is suffocating, on my left side she appears to be getting squashed and becomes a… Continue reading The Act of Letting Go
A Visit from Mom!
Such a nice treat to have a visit from my mom! We haven’t seen each other in a while and I think it was fun for her to see me so massive! In the pictures you can see Iza moving all around. She has been crazy active and it is cool that we caught it… Continue reading A Visit from Mom!
Yoga Birth… What we have learned so far…
What a moment. We have had now our 3rd class out of 8 for the Bradley Method and today we just concluded our Yoga Birth hands on workshop. It is incredible! Honestly, when we got into this, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into and this see of possibility and alternative medicine… Continue reading Yoga Birth… What we have learned so far…
Kurt got accepted to PooL 13 in NYC!
Either Iza is exceptionally good luck or Kurt’s work is really just that amazing… but every single show we apply for, he gets accepted to, gallery or otherwise. It is very exciting. May 10th-12th we are going to be in NYC for Kurt’s first big NYC show during NADA. NADA is the second largest show… Continue reading Kurt got accepted to PooL 13 in NYC!
Halloween came early this year, folks
Its been an interesting few days…let’s just say I would rather write them off as sunk, but unfortunately I have to deal with the repercussions. On Wednesday I was in NYC for a meeting and against my better judgement I went to Brooklyn instead of NYC. It was bitterly… Continue reading Halloween came early this year, folks
Week 27 Measurements
We are cookin’ now! Can’t believe it, but I have grown 4″ around the waste in just a few weeks time. I have gained another 1lb (yay) from where I was last week during my 26 week apt. and Iza is alive and kicking all the time. Mother and baby are certainly thrilled and happy… Continue reading Week 27 Measurements
A Day in NYC with Daniel & Jamie!
We had the most amazing day yesterday with Jamie and Daniel in NYC. They came in on Friday night and we had a chance to come in on Saturday to spend the day with them. Iza has been in a breached position for the last 6 weeks which has caused tremendous pain when walking for… Continue reading A Day in NYC with Daniel & Jamie!
26 Week Ultrasound
Yay! We are well on our way and happily growing. The doctor is super pleased with progress and I have gained a total of 12lbs to date. AWESOME news. If I can maintain growing 1lb per week I will be at a healthy weight for delivery 10-14 weeks from now. She is roughly 1lb 14oz… Continue reading 26 Week Ultrasound
A Beautiful Orchid from My Love
What a wonderful surprise! I came home yesterday off the train from NYC and Kurt picked me up from the station with a bouquet of orchids and a lovely card telling me that I was the Best Momma Ever. Pretty sweet and thoughtful and the flowers are stunning on my desk. 🙂 I do… Continue reading A Beautiful Orchid from My Love
The End of One Era, the Beginning of a New Chapter
It has been years since I have had a proper vacation; a real shut down without any communication or interest in being a part of the technological pull. I would say that I am mentally, completely and utterly on a permanent vacation now. Some of it has to be pregnancy… but I would say the… Continue reading The End of One Era, the Beginning of a New Chapter
Magic at Chez Baird
My dad is by far one of the most talented carpenters. I have been blessed to be the recipient of a dozen or so closets over the years and an endless supply of repair work, but nothing could have prepared me for the glory of his current home whom he shares with his wife Cindy… Continue reading Magic at Chez Baird
A Southern Road Trip
What a great week away! Desperately needed, of course… and we got a chance to see so many familiar faces. Truly a wonderful experience. We started in PA at my Dad and Cyn’s brand spankin’ new house with a lovely family dinner. Cindy had made everything that I could eat, including gluten-free Pita Bread! I… Continue reading A Southern Road Trip
Accepted to Miami and Other Amazing Updates
And would you lookie here – KURT IS GOING TO MIAMI! Yay! As of today he is officially booked out for December. With a room all to his own, next to the largest Contemporary Art Show in America (Art Basel), he is going to have the best experience of his life. And we are going… Continue reading Accepted to Miami and Other Amazing Updates
Loving the DIA in the Winter
One of the major reasons we moved to Beacon and decided to stay was the DIA: Beacon. This is the absolute most inspiring place in the world for Kurt and I am just simply walking the halls of art with the vast white space and outrageous lighting gives us thousands of ideas. It is particularly… Continue reading Loving the DIA in the Winter
Happy Birthday to Us!
We had the absolute best birthdays this year. Just us… relaxing both days. While we were not amongst family or doing any of the traditional fun things, we had a great time together. More and more often we are finding out just how much we enjoy space and time… which is unusual for both of… Continue reading Happy Birthday to Us!
Whiter, Brighter, Smiles!
After agreeing to cease and desist drinking coffee and red wine, Kurt had a two hour sit with ZOOM whitening. I had gone out of town on business and Kurt had it in his calendar to be at the dentist at 9am for this treatment. He doesn’t ask a lot of questions generally, so I… Continue reading Whiter, Brighter, Smiles!
First Shows on the Books!
Kurt’s been accepted to his first shows… AMAZING! Yesterday he received news from BAU (Beacon Artists Union) that they have accepted him for a solo show in April. In addition he will also be in the Beacon Centennial Show in May. Today he met with Theo Ganz Gallery on the other side of Beacon and… Continue reading First Shows on the Books!
Kurt’s 1st Open Studio
What a success! Kurt’s first opening in our studio had no shortage of great neighbors, new friends and randoms. Some characters and some creatives… definitely an interesting group. With the help of Derek, our buddy visiting us from Cortland, NY we had a constant stream of excitement. The day after we went for a lovely… Continue reading Kurt’s 1st Open Studio
A Golden Moment for Kurt
Well, well, well… if only the world were to stop and stand still for a few minutes, Kurt would relish in the entire experience of sitting and looking at his Golden Paint… just looking. Since receiving his precious paints he has been so prolific, developing new ideas, creating, etc. Also, in buying bulk we got… Continue reading A Golden Moment for Kurt
And So We Did!
Out of request of Grammy (Rache’s beloved, vibrant Grandmother in Florida), we decided to make it official. The best part: We honeymooned in NYC (oh, and we think we will save a ridiculous amount on taxes)! Way better than the legalization element and definitely worth the hour or two dealing with paperwork. We have gotten… Continue reading And So We Did!
18 Week Measurement – Homestyle
We were really hamming it up in this one, excited for Cousin Daniel’s arrival! But it was fun and we had a good time making these shots and measuring on the wall. The baby is really starting to grow. We are at 6″ and today we have a “Listening to the Heart Beat” appointment today… Continue reading 18 Week Measurement – Homestyle
It’s a Girl!
Z!BE is always going to be our baby name… and we still will use it occasionally, but Z!BE is officially Iza Ruby Brand. We are so thrilled to introduce her to you…. Today we measured the little lady at 4.5″. All is super healthy with the testing and we have very low probabilities for all… Continue reading It’s a Girl!
16 Week Measurement…
Kurt got this great idea to start a painting that would go throughout our pregnancy. So, we have a dedicated place in the studio to measure the belly against. You can’t see it in this pic, but he has traced my body from the ground to the top of my pony tail. The lighting was… Continue reading 16 Week Measurement…
Z!BE’s 15 Week Heartbeat
This goes out to Karl… Kurt’s bro. He is responsible for making this into a song. Totally cool! Listen to the baby’s heartbeat here.