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Foodie Loves Fitness

Sharing my passion for living a healthy & happy life

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Big News! We’re Leaving New England

“Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life.”  – Robin Sharma

Almost four years ago, my husband and I moved from San Diego to Western Connecticut. We wanted to move closer to our families and become parents, and Adam had gotten a finance job in New York.

Our plan was to stay for a couple of years and see how we felt. Well, the time has come… and we’re feeling like we’re ready for a new chapter in our lives. We’re looking forward to a new adventure, and we’ve got a big one in the works…

Next month, we’re moving out of our home here and setting off on a year of traveling as our little family of three, plus our four legged child. Our plan is do long term Airbnb stays in around a dozen destinations around America. The first three stops will all be places that we’ve visited for a few short days and want to spend more time in: Asheville, NC; New Orleans, LA; and Austin, TX.

A peek of Austin, TX when I was there in 2018

While we’ve enjoyed getting to be just a drive away from our families and have taken advantage of living here to the fullest, Adam and I both feel that the northeast just isn’t for us overall. We’re not crazy about the weather (oomph, our allergies hate it here!), the scenery, the general demeanor of people around here, and the cost of living for a place we’re not in love with… so why stay when we can live somewhere else that we enjoy more?

Hanging out in a giant spider web with Cammie in Vermont last fall

The timing seems right for us: The housing market is wild! We’re aware that we’ll experience this as buyers the next time, but for now we’re enjoying being sellers in a sellers’ market.

Our daughter will turn three years old in a couple months, so she’s no longer a baby but she’s not yet in school.

Perhaps the most important factor is our work situation: Adam began a new job a couple months ago that’s permanently remote. And I freelance remotely part-time while taking care of our toddler, so we now both have the job flexibility.

Change often gets a reputation for being a bad thing that causes anxiety and nerves. But I happen to think that change often is a good thing. Sure, there are unknowns with doing something new – especially when you’re upending your life as you know it – but it also makes me feel excited. Life is for living, not just for going through the motions, and I definitely feel alive as we get ready for this next chapter!

There’s a lot of planning that’s going into this next year and there are some question marks, but I’m mostly looking forward to what’s to come. I’m ready to explore new areas and expand our horizons.

My girls on the beach in CT in 2020

So here I am, in the beginning of June, a month away from moving out of the place I’ve called home for over three years, in an area we’ve been in for nearly four years. I gave birth in New England, and dealt with the challenges of newborn life here. I began doing freelance content creation as my main gig when we moved here.

There are things that I’ll miss about life in the northeast: We have our most visited parks and trails, our favorite bakery, our beloved aquarium and nature center that we visit on a regular basis, and a couple of great friends that I’ve made while living here. And of course, it’s been nice only living a few hours away from my family. That’s a luxury we may not have again, and I never took it for granted.

Cammie at the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium with her friend June

I’ll continue blogging on-the-go, and plan to focus more on travel & adventure writing on Foodie Loves Fitness. I’ll also regularly share my life on the road on my Instagram. After all, this blog has always to be a reflection of my current life.. and here I am, a mom, wife, writer, foodie, healthy lifestyle enthusiast, and travel lover, getting ready for my next big adventure!

Tell me… What’s your favorite city or area in the U.S.?

I’m all ears for recommendations! 

Spread the love

June 4, 2022 1:15 pm foodielovesfitness 4 Comments Filed Under: Featured Adventure Post, New England, Travel

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Comments

  1. Deborah Brooks says

    June 4, 2022 at 9:26 pm

    Sounds like adventure ahead! Great time to take advantage before your daughter goes to school. I was in. Ashevelle recently we had fun. Colorado and Arizona are fun to visit. Maybe, you will even make it to Alaska! Have a great time on your journeys

    Reply
    • foodielovesfitness says

      July 13, 2022 at 7:04 am

      Thank you! CO and AZ are both on our trip agenda! Ooh I would love to make it to Alaska some day – that one may be a bit too far out of the way with a toddler haha

      Reply
  2. David @ Spiced says

    June 13, 2022 at 8:17 am

    Oh. my. gosh. Nicole! When do you leave for Asheville? We’re moving there next week – I kid you not. The moving truck rolls out of town on June 24. If our time crosses in Asheville, let’s get together for lunch? Or dinner? Or a drink? 🙂

    Reply
    • foodielovesfitness says

      July 13, 2022 at 7:02 am

      I’m looking forward to getting together in September! 🙂

      Reply

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Welcome to my blog!

I'm Nicole, and I’m passionate about all things food, fitness and healthy living. I'm a toddler mom, certified health coach, freelance writer, and long-time health nut. Here I share my vegetarian recipes, workouts, fitness trends, travel adventures, and motherhood & health musings. Read more about me…

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Do you remember when you truly realized that the world is wide and you’ve only experienced a speck of it? 🌎

For me, it was the eye-opening opportunity of a college study abroad program in amazing Sicily. I fell in love with Italy, and the experience made me realize that I wanted to prioritize traveling and living in different places when I became a “real adult” (or in other words, when I graduated the following year). 

Getting to return to the charming town of Taormina nearly two decades later with my family was a dream. 

I returned to Sicily in a different phase of life: Older — I’ve almost doubled in age! Wiser. A mom. A wife. 

Yet, still wide-eyed, always up for an adventure, and filled with wonder at the beauty of this world. 

Different, but the same. 

Taormina is still stunning, bustling with more tourists and more fame than I remembered thanks to things like “White Lotus” and Dolce & Gabbana fashion shows (one was happening while we were in town). 

And so, I found Taormina herself to also be different, but the same — and definitely still a magical place ✨

#sicily #mytinyatlas #travelgram #familytravel #italygram
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Do you remember when you truly realized that the world is wide and you’ve only experienced a speck of it? 🌎 For me, it was the eye-opening opportunity of a college study abroad program in amazing Sicily. I fell in love with Italy, and the experience made me realize that I wanted to prioritize traveling and living in different places when I became a “real adult” (or in other words, when I graduated the following year). Getting to return to the charming town of Taormina nearly two decades later with my family was a dream. I returned to Sicily in a different phase of life: Older — I’ve almost doubled in age! Wiser. A mom. A wife. Yet, still wide-eyed, always up for an adventure, and filled with wonder at the beauty of this world. Different, but the same. Taormina is still stunning, bustling with more tourists and more fame than I remembered thanks to things like “White Lotus” and Dolce & Gabbana fashion shows (one was happening while we were in town). And so, I found Taormina herself to also be different, but the same — and definitely still a magical place ✨ #sicily #mytinyatlas #travelgram #familytravel #italygram
5 days ago
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Obsessed with my @airbnb view of both the sea & Mount Etna 😍 10/10 even though every walk home is a sweaty glute workout! 

📍Taormina, Sicily 

#myview #travelgram #wanderlust #sicily #italy
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Obsessed with my @airbnb view of both the sea & Mount Etna 😍 10/10 even though every walk home is a sweaty glute workout! 📍Taormina, Sicily #myview #travelgram #wanderlust #sicily #italy
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Got to bake up some delicious macarons in the beautiful city of Paris! 💕 

Macarons are high on my daughter’s list of favorite desserts, and it was lovely learning how to make them from a Parisian pastry chef! The macaron ingredient list is short, but making them is an art ✨

#paris #familytravel #macarons #baking #wanderlust
Got to bake up some delicious macarons in the beautiful city of Paris! 💕 

Macarons are high on my daughter’s list of favorite desserts, and it was lovely learning how to make them from a Parisian pastry chef! The macaron ingredient list is short, but making them is an art ✨

#paris #familytravel #macarons #baking #wanderlust
Got to bake up some delicious macarons in the beautiful city of Paris! 💕 

Macarons are high on my daughter’s list of favorite desserts, and it was lovely learning how to make them from a Parisian pastry chef! The macaron ingredient list is short, but making them is an art ✨

#paris #familytravel #macarons #baking #wanderlust
Got to bake up some delicious macarons in the beautiful city of Paris! 💕 

Macarons are high on my daughter’s list of favorite desserts, and it was lovely learning how to make them from a Parisian pastry chef! The macaron ingredient list is short, but making them is an art ✨

#paris #familytravel #macarons #baking #wanderlust
Got to bake up some delicious macarons in the beautiful city of Paris! 💕 

Macarons are high on my daughter’s list of favorite desserts, and it was lovely learning how to make them from a Parisian pastry chef! The macaron ingredient list is short, but making them is an art ✨

#paris #familytravel #macarons #baking #wanderlust
Got to bake up some delicious macarons in the beautiful city of Paris! 💕 

Macarons are high on my daughter’s list of favorite desserts, and it was lovely learning how to make them from a Parisian pastry chef! The macaron ingredient list is short, but making them is an art ✨

#paris #familytravel #macarons #baking #wanderlust
Got to bake up some delicious macarons in the beautiful city of Paris! 💕 

Macarons are high on my daughter’s list of favorite desserts, and it was lovely learning how to make them from a Parisian pastry chef! The macaron ingredient list is short, but making them is an art ✨

#paris #familytravel #macarons #baking #wanderlust
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Got to bake up some delicious macarons in the beautiful city of Paris! 💕 Macarons are high on my daughter’s list of favorite desserts, and it was lovely learning how to make them from a Parisian pastry chef! The macaron ingredient list is short, but making them is an art ✨ #paris #familytravel #macarons #baking #wanderlust
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Happy 250th Birthday America 🇺🇸

#4thofjuly #boatday #thislandisyourland #america250 #brucespringsteen
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Happy 250th Birthday America 🇺🇸 #4thofjuly #boatday #thislandisyourland #america250 #brucespringsteen
3 weeks ago
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Packed with fruit… but my kid calls it ice cream🍦We love breaking out our @yonanas gadget all summer long! 

My favorite way to make fruit soft serve 👇🏼

INGREDIENTS
1 sliced ripe banana, frozen
2/3 cup strawberries, frozen
favorite toppings: sprinkles, nuts, nut butter, etc

INSTRUCTIONS
Remove your fruit from the freezer. Allow it to thaw for about 10 minutes, until it starts to slightly soften.
Place the frozen fruit into the Yonanas maker, a handful at a time. I like to run about 1/2 the banana, then the strawberries, and then the rest of the banana through the machine straight into a bowl. I then use a spoon to swirl the fruit together, and immediately place the soft serve into cones if using.
Add in your favorite toppings and enjoy before it melts!
Serves 1 - scale up as desired! 

#healthyeating #eatrealfood #fruit #healthydessert #yonanas
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Packed with fruit… but my kid calls it ice cream🍦We love breaking out our @yonanas gadget all summer long! My favorite way to make fruit soft serve 👇🏼 INGREDIENTS 1 sliced ripe banana, frozen 2/3 cup strawberries, frozen favorite toppings: sprinkles, nuts, nut butter, etc INSTRUCTIONS Remove your fruit from the freezer. Allow it to thaw for about 10 minutes, until it starts to slightly soften. Place the frozen fruit into the Yonanas maker, a handful at a time. I like to run about 1/2 the banana, then the strawberries, and then the rest of the banana through the machine straight into a bowl. I then use a spoon to swirl the fruit together, and immediately place the soft serve into cones if using. Add in your favorite toppings and enjoy before it melts! Serves 1 - scale up as desired! #healthyeating #eatrealfood #fruit #healthydessert #yonanas
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Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

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Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

#californiatravel #palmsprings #exploremore #familytravel #roadtrip
Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

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Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

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Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

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Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

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Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

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Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

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Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

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Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

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Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

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Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

#californiatravel #palmsprings #exploremore #familytravel #roadtrip
Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

#californiatravel #palmsprings #exploremore #familytravel #roadtrip
Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

#californiatravel #palmsprings #exploremore #familytravel #roadtrip
Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

#californiatravel #palmsprings #exploremore #familytravel #roadtrip
Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

#californiatravel #palmsprings #exploremore #familytravel #roadtrip
Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

#californiatravel #palmsprings #exploremore #familytravel #roadtrip
Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

#californiatravel #palmsprings #exploremore #familytravel #roadtrip
Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

#californiatravel #palmsprings #exploremore #familytravel #roadtrip
Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎

#californiatravel #palmsprings #exploremore #familytravel #roadtrip
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Palm Springs snapshots 🌴☀️😎 #californiatravel #palmsprings #exploremore #familytravel #roadtrip
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Drop a comment if you consider yourself a scrunchy mom too 🤎 #momsofinstagram #mindset #momlife #scrunchymom
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Drop a comment if you consider yourself a scrunchy mom too 🤎 #momsofinstagram #mindset #momlife #scrunchymom
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School’s out for my little girl ☀️& here are 4️⃣ screen-free tools that I’m using to keep my 6 year old busy and learning when we’re home this summer: 

1️⃣ @mondaymandala’s awesome array of free digital printables on just about anything you can think of 🖍️

2️⃣ @youngwildandfriedman’s amazing sensory kits that are high-quality and last forever. I have purchased a serious amount of these play dough and sensory sand kits over the years & they are worth every penny! My kiddo will spend hours setting up all of the little trinkets and building little play dough towns.

3️⃣ @Canva’s printable educational worksheets ✏️ For instance, I printed out money worksheets & am planning on doing a money lesson that includes us emptying out her piggy bank to delve deeper into currency & paying for something she wants at the store with her own 💵

4️⃣ A @brain_quest workbook — I bought one last summer as well & we love incorporating it into little lessons at home! 

#kidactivities #summerbreak #screenfreeparenting #momsofinstagram #learningathome
foodielovesfitness
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School’s out for my little girl ☀️& here are 4️⃣ screen-free tools that I’m using to keep my 6 year old busy and learning when we’re home this summer: 1️⃣ @mondaymandala’s awesome array of free digital printables on just about anything you can think of 🖍️ 2️⃣ @youngwildandfriedman’s amazing sensory kits that are high-quality and last forever. I have purchased a serious amount of these play dough and sensory sand kits over the years & they are worth every penny! My kiddo will spend hours setting up all of the little trinkets and building little play dough towns. 3️⃣ @Canva’s printable educational worksheets ✏️ For instance, I printed out money worksheets & am planning on doing a money lesson that includes us emptying out her piggy bank to delve deeper into currency & paying for something she wants at the store with her own 💵 4️⃣ A @brain_quest workbook — I bought one last summer as well & we love incorporating it into little lessons at home! #kidactivities #summerbreak #screenfreeparenting #momsofinstagram #learningathome
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Spent the day at 📍Murrieta Hot Springs & thoroughly enjoyed it there! 

While we have visited numerous fun hot springs with our daughter, it was definitely nice to be out of mom mode & experience our local hot springs while our little one was in school. From hot tubs and cold plunges to saunas & clay mud, we got to kick back & enjoy it all! 

#daydate #hotsprings #californialiving #relaxation #playinghooky
Spent the day at 📍Murrieta Hot Springs & thoroughly enjoyed it there! 

While we have visited numerous fun hot springs with our daughter, it was definitely nice to be out of mom mode & experience our local hot springs while our little one was in school. From hot tubs and cold plunges to saunas & clay mud, we got to kick back & enjoy it all! 

#daydate #hotsprings #californialiving #relaxation #playinghooky
Spent the day at 📍Murrieta Hot Springs & thoroughly enjoyed it there! 

While we have visited numerous fun hot springs with our daughter, it was definitely nice to be out of mom mode & experience our local hot springs while our little one was in school. From hot tubs and cold plunges to saunas & clay mud, we got to kick back & enjoy it all! 

#daydate #hotsprings #californialiving #relaxation #playinghooky
Spent the day at 📍Murrieta Hot Springs & thoroughly enjoyed it there! 

While we have visited numerous fun hot springs with our daughter, it was definitely nice to be out of mom mode & experience our local hot springs while our little one was in school. From hot tubs and cold plunges to saunas & clay mud, we got to kick back & enjoy it all! 

#daydate #hotsprings #californialiving #relaxation #playinghooky
Spent the day at 📍Murrieta Hot Springs & thoroughly enjoyed it there! 

While we have visited numerous fun hot springs with our daughter, it was definitely nice to be out of mom mode & experience our local hot springs while our little one was in school. From hot tubs and cold plunges to saunas & clay mud, we got to kick back & enjoy it all! 

#daydate #hotsprings #californialiving #relaxation #playinghooky
Spent the day at 📍Murrieta Hot Springs & thoroughly enjoyed it there! 

While we have visited numerous fun hot springs with our daughter, it was definitely nice to be out of mom mode & experience our local hot springs while our little one was in school. From hot tubs and cold plunges to saunas & clay mud, we got to kick back & enjoy it all! 

#daydate #hotsprings #californialiving #relaxation #playinghooky
foodielovesfitness
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Spent the day at 📍Murrieta Hot Springs & thoroughly enjoyed it there! While we have visited numerous fun hot springs with our daughter, it was definitely nice to be out of mom mode & experience our local hot springs while our little one was in school. From hot tubs and cold plunges to saunas & clay mud, we got to kick back & enjoy it all! #daydate #hotsprings #californialiving #relaxation #playinghooky
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
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