The baseball community is a tight knit group of people. We live such unique lives that it is actually hard not to connect with those you meet because of the game. Strangely enough, I feel some sort of closeness with “baseball people” I never have even actually met! I’ve been following Rachel’s blog for about a year now and after reading all of her posts and watching all of her videos, I feel like I know her (…and that we are BFFs – she just doesn’t know it!). She has such a fun, spirited personality that comes across so noticeably if you watch just one second of any of her tutorials. To top it off, she is an absolute artist with a make-up brush! I can’t begin tell you how much I have learned from her…I can actually do my make-up now and even feel confident enough to try new products and techniques! But enough about what I think, I’d like you all to meet the very talented – Rachel Weiland!

Current organization: Houston Astros

Years in baseball: Drafted in 2008 by the Boston Red Sox and traded to the Houston Astros in December 2011.

Do you travel with your husband? If yes, how long and what are the best/worst things about it? : Yes, but I wasn’t always able to! I worked in Columbus, OH all through our engagement and the first few months of our marriage, and I was only able to visit him one weekend a month if my work schedule permitted. It was so hard to be apart, and eventually I left my job in May 2011 to go on the road with him. I’ve been blessed to be able to travel with him ever since! I love being able to keep our little family (myself, my husband, and our two adorable cats) together all year round. It’s also been a great blessing to be able to support him from the stands, and witness great events, like his major league debut, that I probably would have missed had I still been working. The toughest thing for me has been adjusting to “not knowing”–where we will live tomorrow, what team he will be on, etc. I’m a Type A planner to my core, so I’ve had to learn to roll with the punches and just put everything in God’s hands. He will lead us where He needs us!

Tell me a little about YOU (not the hubby!): I was born and raised in Orange County, California and I graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2009 with degrees in Chinese and English. Yes, I said Chinese! I studied abroad in Taiwan, and I speak Chinese fluently, although I’m quite rusty after a couple years of very little practice. I love to sing, and I’ve recently joined our church choir and praise band, which has been incredibly fun! Music was a huge part of my life growing up, so it’s really nice to get back in to it now that I’ve got the time.

Tell me about your blog and why you started it? : Last year was my first Spring Training, and I was looking for things to keep me occupied since I was no longer working. My mom suggested I start a blog and YouTube Channel to share some of my tips, tricks, and ideas for makeup looks. I’ve always loved to write and had a passion for all things beauty, so it made sense to combine the two. And so Glow of Grace was born. However, I wanted to do more than just write about makeup and beauty products because I think beauty truly comes from the inside. My faith is a huge part of my life and who I am, and I wanted that to shine through my words. I think women, and especially young girls, need more role models with good values and morals, so I strive to be a person that people not only look to for beauty advice, but for how to live a life that reflects the grace of God. My interests are also fairly well-rounded, and we are obviously blessed with opportunities to travel all over, so I’ve thrown in some reviews of different places and favorite recipes as well. I’ve actually debated, and continue to debate, whether or not to blog about our baseball life or not. I don’t think my readers and subscribers even know I’m a baseball wife! Sometimes I think it would be helpful for our friends and families to have a place to look for updates, and certainly helpful for me to have an outlet to keep sane, but I’m still undecided. And since my husband is recovering and rehabbing from a shoulder infection, I’ve got another season to make up mind.

Favorite product of the moment: Oh, this is so hard! I have so many! Well, Spring has definitely arrived here in Austin, so I’m going to have to go with my Maybelline Vivid Lipstick in Pink Pop. I actually don’t wear a ton of makeup on a daily basis, so I throw on a little mascara, maybe a little eyeliner, and this bright pink lipstick. It makes me feel put together and ready for Spring with very little effort.

Best beauty advice for those baseball ladies (or any ladies) who travel a lot: Invest in a train case! Life on the road means never knowing what kind of storage or lighting your next bathroom will have. A good train case will keep your makeup organized and ready for transport at a moment’s notice. I don’t ever bring my entire makeup collection with me on the road, but it holds enough to keep even makeup junkies like myself satisfied! Plus I find I use more of my collection when I can see it all clearly in front of me. I used to keep everything stored in makeup bags, and I’d always reach for the same few products over and over while the rest of my makeup lay forgotten. My train case is from Sephora and I love it, but I’m sure you can find other options at places like WalMart or on Amazon.

 
Now that you know a little about Rachel, go visit her at www.glowofgrace.com and see how wonderful she is!