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The Perfect Trip to the Greek Island of Paros

January 5, 2023January 5, 2023by Rachel Prochnow2 Comments

Imagine white-washed building with sky blue steeples surrounded by azure waters, the friendliest people, and the most delectable food. You’ve just imagined the Greek Isle of Paros. And I am going to tell you how to have the perfect trip on the Greek isle of Paros.

What is the best time of year to go?

I personally think that September is the most ideal time to go to the Greek islands in general. The Greek isles get very hot. July and August are not only extremely hot, but they’re also the height of tourist season. September, you’ll still be very warm, able to swim, snorkle, and explore, but it won’t be as scalding or as busy. Be sure to bring a wrap or sweater for dinner after the sun goes down.

Getting to Paros

If you are headed to Paros, you’re probably going to be coming from another Greek island, like Santorini. That is where we were coming from. One of the main ways to get to Paros is by boat. But you can also fly into the island. We chose to take a ferry. I recommend upgrading to first class for your ferry. It’s just a small extra fee but 100% worth it! Blue Star is the superior ferry, if you can book them over the other ones.

Do I Need a Car in Paros?

Yes, if you plan on exploring Paros, you will 100% need a car. Also, you will need an international Driver’s License because the Greek alphabet is different than the Latin script that are English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, ect. So if you went to a place like the UK, France, Italy, or Portugal you wouldn’t need one, but you 100% do need one for Greek since they have a completely different alphabet. Technically you may get away with someone renting you a car without one, but it is a pain and you will end up paying 5x as much as you would if you had the permit. So, just get the permit. It takes 20 minutes to get one, just go to your local AAA. Or do the online form with plenty of lead time. Also, if you don’t drive stick, be sure to reserve an automatic. In Europe, stick is the go to, and automatic is the outlier and they’re harder to come by. Paros is a pretty big island with lots to discover and you’ll want a car to get around it easily!

Where to stay

There are two main villages I would recommend staying in Paros- Parikia or Naousa. You can’t go wrong with staying any of these two villages! Both are exceptionally lovely and have incredible food. Parikia is where the ferries dock, so you’ll be there straight away when you land. Naousa is just a little bit farther. No matter which you decide to stay in, you’ll definitely want to explore the other for at least a day.

Places to Stay in Naousa

Archipelagos Studios

Archipelagos Studios is a budget-friendly hotel, located 350 feet from the beach and 5 minutes’ walking from the central square of the village. Enjoy a calm and peaceful atmosphere. This small hotel offers basic, quiet and clean accommodations, and an ideal base for discovering the area.

Stelia Mare Boutique Hotel

Offering a pool and a fitness center, the Cycladic-style Stelia Mare Boutique Hotel is 100 feet from Agioi Anargyroi Beach. It features elegant accommodations with a spa bath and free Wi-Fi. Naoussa Village is a 4-minute walk away.

Katerina mare

With a prime location right before Piperi Beach, Katerina mare is only 650 feet from Naousa’s central square. The sea-facing complex consists of luxury studios and apartments in a sleek and contemporary Cycladic style.

Places to Stay in Parikia

KOKOON

Located in Parikia and with Livadia reachable within a few steps, KOKOON has express check-in and check-out, non-smoking rooms, a garden, free WiFi throughout the property and a shared lounge. The property is around a 8-minute walk from Church of Ekatontapyliani, 0.4 miles from Archaeological Museum of Paros and 5.7 miles from Venetian Harbour and Castle. Each room is equipped with a balcony.

Hotel Dina

Housed in a traditional Cycladic building, Hotel Dina is located in Parikia Town of Paros, just 650 feet from the port and 0.6 mi from Livadia Beach. It offers free Wi-Fi in its public areas and air-conditioned units with a balcony or patio.

Villages to Explore in Paros

In addition to exploring Naoussa and Parikia, you’ll need to explore other adorable parts of the Paros to make your trip perfect.

Lefkes

I recommend spending an afternoon exploring this village in Paros. Its narrow stone walkways adorned with the lovely pink bougainvillea will steal your heart. It is a tiny village that takes you right back to what it would have been like as a 17th century Greek islander. While you are there, grab food from Chrisoula Mezes Tavern, Honey Gelato, or the Stratis bakery. This village was built on the side of a cliff so you may need a refreshment throughout your exploration.

Antiparos

If you would like you can take a day trip to Antiparos, the island right across from Paros! It is stunningly beautiful with cute shopping and of course, the Aegean waters.

Where to Eat in Paros

Taverna Glafkos (Naoussa)

This was by far the best food we had on our honeymoon! And the you cant beat the ocean front view either.

Taverna Yannis (Parikia)

This was exceptional food, just absolutely amazingly delectable.

Little Green Rocket (Parikia)

Believe it or not, this place had the most amazing chicken wings!

Balcony Tou Aki (Aliki)

You can’t beat this beach front restaurant. The view is stunning and the food, and wine, incredible!

Cooking Lesson

Don’t forget to throw in a traditional Greek cooking lesson while you’re in Paros! We absolutely loved learning how to make authentic, Greek food. We had no idea how much we loved Greek food until we were there! This is the cooking class we took. If you are going to Greece in the hotter months, which you probably are, I would recommend asking them not to teach you how to make Moussaka, the national dish. You will need to request this ahead of time. The Greeks love it, but it is so heavy, you’ll be sweating.

At the end of your Greek excursion to Paros, I can guarantee, you wont want to leave! Paros was our favorite Greek isle and it was just perfect.

Talk soon,

Rach

fashion

Gift Guide for your Girly Girl

November 19, 2020November 19, 2020by Rachel ProchnowLeave a Comment

The most wonderful time of the year is finally here! If you’re anything like me, you love the joy of giving an amazing gift.

The happiness of absolutely nailing the gift for your bestie, sister, or mom is literally one of the best feelings in the world. Usually I am even more excited about them opening their gift than I am about receiving any myself! As you know, finding that perfect gift can be super tough-there are just so many options out there. So, I have narrowed it down for you to pick any of these amazing options for the girly gal in your life! By the way-the jewelry in here is all from Diamonds Direct and they’re have a massive 20% off virtually their entire store until 11/22 so drop those hints to your bf or hubby ASAP on these pieces! Or buy them for yourself! 🙂

Under $50 Gifts

Olaplex

I swear by this hair mask. It rebuilds your hair from the shaft from the damage thats caused by highlighting or coloring your hair. It’s a must have!

Nars Blush

This has been my go-to blush for years and I absolutely love it!

Pillow Talk Lip Kit

My all time #1 favorite lip set- this is a must have.

Herschel Beanie

How cute is this pink beanie with floral details for the colder weather. It would be cute to take on a skiing adventure!

Freepeople Sweatpants

Freepeople just knows how to to comfy, laid back sweatpants! These are so incredibly soft and I love the feminine color.

Treasure & Bond Cuffed Beanie with Pom

Literally the cutest little snow bunny look!

Satin Sleep Set

I have been dying for a luxe sleep set like this! It is supposed to prevent hair breakage which I am here for!

Under $100 Gifts

Spanx Leggings

These couldn’t fit in my graphic above but everyone says they are 100% worth the hype and they are definitely on my Christmas list! I like that there is not a center split seam (no more camel toe!)

Bobbi Brown Makeup Set

Bobbi Brown just has the most amazing makeup. This set is perfect for the glam girl in your life (who might be you-I know I am that friend!)

Freepeople Sweater

Another cute item from Freepeople! Their clothes are always luxe, soft, and last for years.

Waffle Weave PJs

I don’t know about you but 2020 has been the year of adorable loungewear and this set is just the cutest and so soft!

Over $100 Gifts

Royal Jewelry Collection by Diamonds Direct

I am in love with these baguette diamonds on this pendent-it so unique and stunning. Time to drop some hints to the guys ladies (or buy it for yourself! You don’t need a guy to buy you diamonds!) Their entire showroom is virtually 20% off until 11/22 so act fast!

Coco Chanel Mademoiselle

This scent is so feminine and light, it’s one of my all time favorites!

Mixed Cut Diamond Open Ring

I truly have never seen a ring like this and am here for it!

Offset Baguette Diamond Earrings

These lightweight stunners are on my list for sure. I have very sensitive ears and I love finding beautiful statement earrings like this that I can actually wear!

Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit Running Shoes

These are the all time cutest sneakers of all! Nikes are always my go-to and these are definitely on my list.

Mixed Diamond Shape Bracelet

This bracelet is just so timeless and stunning!

Multi-Shape Fashion Ring

This ring is just stunning and is definitely worth going on the wish list imo!

Which is your favorite?! Tell in the comments and happy shopping babes!

Love ya like a sister,

Rachel

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How I Pray

May 8, 2020May 8, 2020by Rachel ProchnowLeave a Comment

A feeling of dread gripped her as her small group began “popcorn style” prayer. Everyone’s prayers seemed so much more inspired than hers.

She didn’t really know how to pray. Whenever she prayed, it would usually just trail off into nothing or she would become distracted by the whistle of her iPhone. She waited for a lull to interject a prayer she had been mulling over for the last 15 minutes. But then the worst thing happened—the awkward two-voices-beginning-a-prayer-in-unison, and then the even more uncomfortable, “No, no, you go.” She let the other guy pray his prayer. Feelings of shame and frustration welled up inside her as she wondered, how do you even pray?

I don’t know if any of you have had a similar experience to the one above, but I know I have. Growing up in the church and going to a private high school, I learned the “Christian lingo” pretty rapidly. I figured out what phrases would get the most “mmms” or “amens.” I would throw those bad boys into my prayer to get a little spiritual ego boost, not because I genuinely felt or believed them.

But then I experienced the power of the gospel, and I realized prayer is our way of communicating with our Father.

And He wants to hear us.

He wants to hear genuine prayers.

He wants us to talk to Him. And because we are His children, we can boldly approach His throne (Hebrews 4:16). Once I figured that out, I realized I had been going about this whole prayer thing completely wrong. Let’s examine exactly how Jesus says to pray and His example of prayerfulness throughout His life.

PRAY SIMPLY

When teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus gives several prescriptions on how to pray and how not to pray. The first thing He says not to do is, “Do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7). So often, we dress up our prayers to look more spiritual to those around us. God knows what is on our hearts (Matthew 6:8).

He just wants us to bring it to Him in honest, humble, and simple prayers.

There is no need to impress. God has already determined your worth by defeating death to make you His own. You already have the best approval of all—the approval of the Creator of the universe—and you are His child.

UPWARD, INWARD, AND OUTWARD

Throughout the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6, Jesus gives a pattern we can imitate. Jesus uses direction to focus His prayers in a few different ways.
The first is an upward focus:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Jesus focuses on God’s character, His holiness, His kingdom, and His will. He begins with worship. He acknowledges a submission to the Father’s will above His own.

Then He shifts His focus inward:

Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts…

He asks the Father for sustenance. He isn’t afraid to boldly ask. This demonstrates a humility and dependence on the Father and total deference to Him. This inward focus includes reflecting on our own hearts—where do we need forgiveness? Where do we need to seek forgiveness?

Lastly, His focus is outward:

…as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Consider the pronouns Jesus uses during this outward shift. He uses we, our, and us. Jesus is praying for others.

Does your prayer life follow this pattern? As I was considering this, I realized my prayer life is extremely self-centered. I needed to spend more time praising God for His character and praying for those around me.

PRAY SCRIPTURE

One of the most enriching and transformative things we can do is actively pray through Scripture.

Go line by line. Just read it, and then pray that you would be able to apply it and it would transform your heart.

Martin Luther used to do this. He said that when you read the Scriptures, “your first duty is to begin to pray.” Here is a practical example of how you can walk through the Lord’s prayer, praying through each line:

“Our Father in heaven”
Thank you for being my Father. Thank you for calling me your own. Help me remember that identity when the world is telling me my identity is in appearance, approval, grades, or achievement.

“Hallowed be your name”
God, your name is holy—you are set apart. You are worthy of all glory, honor, and praise because you are perfect. Teach my heart to remember you are holy.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done”
God, I pray that I would desire your kingdom to come. Help me desire your will over my own.

Oftentimes, I set my alarm for a set amount of time, flip my phone over, and just start praying through a particular passage until my timer goes off. You will be amazed how much God can teach through that time of prayer and being immersed in His Word.

God has made us His own.

Because we are His children, we have direct access to our Father anytime we want.

Prayer is an open line of communication—He wants to hear from us.

Prayer helps us actively live out our identity as sons and daughters of the King. As we pray to our Father, our delight in Him increases and we experience a deeper, more joyful intimacy with Him. It’s my hope and prayer we become people of prayer-women who are utterly dependent on Christ. Drop me a DM or comment if you have other helpful tips on how we should pray!

Love ya like a sister-

Rach

fashion

Waterl<ss: My Secret to Going a Week Without Washing My Hair

April 20, 2020April 24, 2020by Rachel ProchnowLeave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Waterl<ss.

If you are anything like me, then you dread washing your hair because you know a long, damaging session with the blow dryer looms before you.

I’ve tried many a hair product to maximize the time between washes, but I haven’t found one that compares to Waterl<ss. If you’re not familiar with Waterl<ss, it’s a hair care company based out of Cape Town, South Africa created by a small group of scientists who wanted to create non-wash products that actually work. They put the products to the test during the water crisis in early 2018! I love partnering with brands that have awesome principals, and Waterl<ss celebrates diversity with lines for all different hair types. They are also passionate about water conservation! Their three-step system to maximizing the time between washes is so effective because it makes your hair look, feel, and even smell fresh-like you washed your hair that day. They want your hair to look just as good on day three as it does on day one. You know me, I go 4, sometimes even a full week without washing my hair. I do it using Waterl<ss’ full regimen of products. Also-think about this-the less you wash your hair, the less damaging heat you put on it. I am convinced this has helped my hair grow so long and healthy.

Making your hair look clean

Waterl<ss’ first step is their dry shampoo. Their No Residue dry shampoo stands out above the rest because there is no residue. You know how some dry shampoos leave your hair looking grey or chalky? Waterl<ss has absolutely zero of that. My roots are a light brown/dark blonde and so I am always cognizant of that-I mean who wants to walk around with grey roots?! Waterl<ss has solved this problem and simply leaves your roots looking clean.

Making your hair feel clean

You know that feeling after you deep condition your hair? The ends are soft and smooth. It’s hard to get that feeling without actually deep conditioning your hair. I know usually around day 2-3 of me forgoing washing my hair the ends begin to get a little brittle. But Waterl<ss has developed such a great solution to that! Their Weightless Smooth dry conditioner leaves your hair shiny, smooth, and soft-feeling like you just deep conditioned it. I always apply the dry conditioner to the mid shaft of the hair down to the ends, avoiding my roots or places near the top of my scalp.

Making your hair smell clean

Your girl loves to work out. I work out every single day. I also love hiking and pretty much doing anything active. But I don’t want to have to wash my hair every single time I work out-if I did that I would be spending an hour a day blow drying-nobody’s got time for that! Waterl<ss’ third and final step is their hair fragrance. This makes your hair smell fresh and clean without being overly “perfumey.”

Waterl<ss’ system has completely transformed how much heat I use on my hair and how often I need to wash it. Their products are so effective and thoughtful. I love being able to go hiking or work out knowing I can go without having to wash my hair afterwards. Their three-step system has perfected making your hair look, feel, and smell so fresh and clean!

The Waterl<ss Collection is available online at Target!

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Overcoming Sadness

March 26, 2020by Rachel Prochnow1 Comment

Have you ever been in a really sad season of life?
A season where your sadness overwhelms and feels like it is going to crush you.

A season where you force yourself to crawl out of bed because you don’t want to face anyone or anything the day has to offer.

A season where you feel so alone, all you want to do is cry. A season where the promises of God seem so far away, you have to fight every day to believe them.

That’s the season I’ve been in in the past.

My sadness seemed every where, a prison created by my own self-centeredness combined with the brokenness that is etched into this world. Everyday I would wake up and pray to God to sustain me. I met with a friend who pointed me to truth and encouraged me that there is beauty in authenticity and in rejoicing in the midst of very real pain. She pointed me to scripture that reminded me of the Gospel and gave me practical suggestions to focus my heart on Jesus and I would love to share those with you friends.

BE REAL

I don’t know about you, but my whole life I’ve tried to be perfect. To look perfect, act perfect, have it all together- the fake it till you make it mentality. Imperfections were never an option. But here’s the thing- we are broken.
We are weak.
We are little.
God is strong.
God is powerful.
God sustains.
God wants every aspect of our hearts and most of the times, going through that process is painful. Usually God puts us out of our comfortable situations into uncomfortable one where we have to be stretched. Sad seasons are uncomfortable. It’s uncomfortable when a stranger asks how you’re doing to say, “You know what, it’s a hard season, but I am fighting to believe God’s promises through it.” But God desires our integrity. He wants us to be real- to be honest. Not necessarily to bare our souls and tell our deepest sin struggles to every stranger at the grocery store. But he wants us to be real, to be authentic.

MAKE A LIST OF THANKFULNESS

Everyday now I am making a list of things I am thankful for. At the top of this list is always the Gospel. When you remember that Jesus Christ, who was fully man and fully God, came to earth, lived the perfect life, died the death that we deserved, then defeated death so that we could be restored back into the original design He intended for us-it puts everything back into perspective. It centers our hearts where they should be- on Jesus. God wants us to rejoice through suffering.

MEMORIZE PROMISES

Scripture is our weapon. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Here are some promises from scripture to encourage and remind you of the heart of God and how to rejoice through sadness.

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” 1 Peter 4:12-14

God is sovereign over all things-all suffering, all sadness. He is sovereign over all circumstances. He is sovereign over Satan. God is sovereign over suffering. He uses it to make us more like Him, to make us understand our utter and complete dependance upon Him. The times I have been closest to God are the darkness times of my life. God used my biggest fear and biggest hardship to call me into ministry. I remember it vividly. I hadn’t eaten in days because I was crying out to the Lord to sustain me. I had been attacked by one of my closest guy friends. My biggest fear had become my biggest reality. I cried out to God, telling Him I had no desire to live anymore. With a soft voice He answered me with Philippians 1:21, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Right then I knew that this God who met me in the midst of my deepest sadness and rescued me-is a God worth living for-worth giving everything for.
God used that hardship to push me into ministry. We do not suffer in vain.

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32

God does not withhold good from us. All His plans are for His glory and for our good.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Our power belongs to God. We are His broken vessels to do His will. We are going to be attacked on every side, but we are never without hope. Our lives and our hope is rooted completely in Jesus and in the cross.

God uses suffering. He uses it to remind us of our desperate need for Him. He wants our whole heart. He wants our everything. Remind yourself every day of the Gospel, of His promises, and that He is a good, good Father.

Love you sister,

Rach