Flamestrike Archery

02/10/2024

2024 Year of the Dragon

The solar new year started out with a couple of firsts: first time being able to watch the Boston Celtics play at the TD Garden and the first snowfall of the winter where the kids got to enjoy their first sledding session of the year.

These were then followed up with my first round of iron infusions and my first bout of the C this year that I thought was a head cold. (I’d caught it twice last year so that’s why I say this is my first round of the year 😏)

The month finally wound down with my husband in A&E due to chest pains and although thankfully not an actual cardiac event, they discovered there was an irregularity with his ECG so he’s been referred to a cardiologist.

Takeaways from the month have included my husband and I shifting our focus to our personal health and fitness goals that have helped me deal with my own negative relationship with food.

I wasn’t planning on focusing on a word of the year this year, but the latter half of January has made me realize that the universe has already shown me what my year’s focus needs to be: health.

Mental, physical, and emotional health… they all matter, and I’ve taken time to write my goals for each of these.

So I thought since today is the Lunar New Year, I wanted to share with you my word for the new year and see how everyone else’s resolutions, goals or word of the year has been shaping your year so far.

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy new year!

12/25/2023

The big day!

In our household, we celebrate Christmas but one big cultural difference I’ve noticed here in the US is that everyone tries to be more sensitive about others religion, opinions, political views etc.

So in my keeping with embracing cultural norms of the country we currently call home, I hope you’re all enjoying the quieter pace of the longer nights in the Northern hemisphere and I wish you all a peaceful, restful and joyous holiday season.

Happy Holidays everyone!

12/23/2023

Rock on!

Ive recently joined a group of talented musicians for my first rehearsal as a vocalist. Loving the energy and vibe of the group.

I’m classically trained. That usually means when I’m learning a new piece, I have sheet music in front of me so that I can read along and count the timing of when I’m supposed to come in. Im not used to doing things by ear, by feel and making it up as I go along. I’m definitely out of my comfort zone.

Luckily for me, these guys are patient and encouraging and most importantly they are passionate about what they do so it pushes me to go beyond my comfort zone and try something new.

As with all things, I’m a work in progress.

And I’m ok with that cuz it means I’ve room to grow.

Who better to share that with than all of you out there who are doing exactly the same thing;
Working at what you love to do.

Thanks for letting me share!

12/11/2023

Happy Grinchmosas…

I was able to enjoy these amazing cocktails this afternoon thanks to one of the members of a social club that I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with since arriving in the US: the Lexington Neighbors and Newcomers club.

It may not be an archery club, but it’s a club that connects people who have moved from all over the world to settle here in Lexington, the “birthplace of American liberty.”

I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some amazing people through this group and although I said I haven’t found my tribe here, this group fills a void I’ve had with my own personal social life here.

For my children, it was easier to help fill this gap. They have school, soccer, baseball, swimming, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, play dates, … but I find it’s not so easy as an adult to find groups and make connections.

So, if you move frequently, where have you turned to to find your village and build your tribe? And if you aren’t an expat, how do you try and connect with new people?

12/08/2023

[Trigger Warning : Eating disorder]

Is envy all that bad?

I’ve been an instagram lurker these past number of years since I got to the States. I’ve been watching everyone’s feeds and envying all the posts everyone have been putting up and at first it made me feel bad.

That tiny twinge of negativity continued to ni**le inside me and it started to feed off my insecurities.

I found myself constantly comparing and wishing it were me that was back out shooting, back in the woods, exploring, travelling, exercising… and for two years, I’ve hid. I’ve struggled to find my tribe here and even though I’m involved in the community, I’ve not allowed myself to open my heart to start over again.

I felt like s**t giving up something I had worked so hard to build. I felt like I couldn’t start over and rebuild. So to compensate, I fell back into bad habits. Old habits. I binged. I purged. I gained weight. And I felt like s**t so I did it again. Rinse and repeat.

I’m back out the other side again thanks to help from my family. I started working at a school with kids who are on IEPs. I started training at a gym. And I remembered that the light always breaks through the darkness.

That envy I had is what fueled me to do better. I wasn’t envious of YOUR success. I was upset because I didn’t get proper closure for a stage in my life that I was proud of. I was envious of the confidence I had in myself three years ago. I was envious of the connection and community I had back in the UK.

Once I realised this, a seed of an idea was planted. I can start again. I can rebuild what I began.

Now I’m looking at your feed and all I see is inspiration. I see you working. I see you doing what you love and I see you sharing your light.

Thanks for all you do and for being you.

And thanks for letting me share.

11/11/2022

Thankful for those who have and those who continue to sacrifice so that we may all be free.

Lest we forget.

🇨🇦

07/04/2022

[LONG READ!] Sometimes you take the road less travelled

And it takes you somewhere quite unexpected.

It's been 9 months since we made the journey across the ocean to the United States. And to be honest, it's been one tough journey.

For starters, the culture shock is real.

My children grew up in Europe and life this side of the pond is quite different. Everything from food to clothing to music to sports interests. They've had to make so many accommodations and adjustments. But this mama bear is so proud how they've all stepped right up and worked their asses off to find their community.

Everything has been a compromise or an adjustment. They're missing their friends. They miss the familiar. But the amazing thing about these little humans is that they have taken everything in stride. Don't get me wrong. There have been some pretty s**t tough days. But the fact they have worked on building relationships here has made such a difference.

So here I am now, 9 months down this road and I've been anxious about trying to do my own thing but it's taken this long to help my family to get their footing and now that they're finally adjusting, I'm looking inwards to see where I'm meant to be going.

So far, I don't have any definitive answers but I do know wherever I'm meant to be going, it's down a path I've not been down before. I'm trying new things. I'm reflecting on what serves me in this time and space.

Never in a million years would I have ever imagined that I'd be standing on a range with a gun in my hand, but here I am and I actually enjoyed myself (It helped that I shot the clays and found out I'm an OK shot with a pistol 🤪)

But a bigger realisation for me is that I'm ready to walk down the unknown path. Whatever lies ahead, I know that I'm not walking it alone.

03/08/2022

Happy International Women's Day

To all the incredible and amazing women in my life,

Thank you for showing the world what strong looks like.
Thank you for being you.

12/30/2021

FLASH WARNING

Here's to a 2022 filled with possibilities, amazing adventures and beautiful memories! Happy New Year everyone!

nicorauchenwald • 2021 RECAP

12/24/2021

Happy Christmas and joyous holiday season to everyone !

12/01/2021

Well hello December!

How are we already at the end of the year??

How are you winding down the year?

Every year I tell myself I'll be organised with getting Christmas sorted and every year, I do what I always do: enjoy the hustle and bustle (Or as my husband would call it: procrastinate til I'm doing last minute shopping)

One of the most amazing things about moving around is that we incorporate local traditions and make them a part of our own.

So every year, we celebrate Sinterklass because the children were all born in Belgium and we always have a picky tea when we are trimming the tree.

What's your favourite part of this season? Are there are unique family traditions you share together?

12/01/2021

I've been quiet the past while as my family and I have been settling into life in Massachusetts. But as the year is winding down, I wanted to share where I'm planning on taking things in the new year.

These past few months have been busy as I've had to adjust to an international move. Settling and adjusting to a new setting, building and forging new connections aren't always the easiest and sometimes doesn't come as naturally as I would like it to be.

I also don't do well with being idle but I've been needing to slow down, take stock and rest because if I need to focus on building my health back up so that I can carry on the mission of Flamestrike Archery.

I'll need my strength because come February, I'll be gearing up to become a licenced Archery USA coach. Flamestrike will also need to become a US entity so I'll be working hard behind the scenes to ensure everything is in place.

I've also found an indoor league, so when our container finally arrives, I'll be able to get back on the line!

Thanks for sharing my journey. I'm excited to build on my dream here in the United States!
Roll on the thaw in the spring so that I can once again sit in a circle with a new group of girls and share my passion for archery