The Next Chapter

Just less than 2 years ago, I shared with you my excitement and nerves as I announced Nathan and my big move across the country to California. As we approach our 2 year anniversary in the Bay Area, I’m excited to announce that we are going to be moving back to Baltimore! In a month, no less!

Oakland Bay Bridge on our first day in California.

Our time in California has truly been great. It was scary moving out here on one income, not knowing anyone, and trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. There were a lot of smiles, laughs, butterflies, and tears along the way, but I can confidently say we did it. I’ve never been one for change; I’m a creature of habit and change scares the crap out of me. But I quit my 9 to 5, moved with my husband across the country, made some friends, and started a brand new career.

We conquered Mt. Tam!

My experience here as a personal trainer has made me a stronger and more easy-going person. Sure, I knew how to work out on my own, but starting as a personal trainer in a place where I had no network was tough! And you can bet I don’t have a set schedule; not day-to-day, not week-to-week. I’ve built up to more than 20 sessions per week and I’ll definitely miss my clients and co-workers. It’s going to be tough to replace my work family.

Love this lady!

Marcus and I have spent many bright and early mornings training together.

Over the past week, as I’ve broken the news to all of my clients, I’ve gotten some amazing responses that has made me feel like this is the right job and industry for me. I started out flying by the seat of my pants and I never thought people would tell me they’d miss having me as a trainer! It makes me confident that I’ll find my place as a trainer in Baltimore.

It’s certainly going to be a whirlwind of a month packing up and hitting the road. Did I mention we’re driving this time?! It’s going to be a hell of a trip; we’re headed down to L.A. and San Diego for a few days to start, then over to the Grand Canyon, and taking a southern route back to B-More. We’re absolutely stopping in Memphis for some BBQ, too! If you have any suggestions on any must-see [or must eat.. or drink] places, I’m all ears!

Soaking it in.

I’m excited to move back to Baltimore and to be with family and friends again, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

The never-ending hike.

I definitely foresee some wine country vacations in our future.

As I look back on my 1 year in California post, it still remains true. Nathan is my best friend, California’s pretty darn cool, and home is where the heart is.

They’re not excited at all that we’re moving home!

Cheers!

To the next chapter.

And with that, it’s time to scratch things off of our California Bucket List! You can be there will be plenty of pictures on Instagram so don’t forget to follow!

Food for Thought

What would be on your bucket list?
Any suggestions for cross-country driving?

Moving Weekend

Hell week is over! Somehow I came out of it in one piece and ready to tackle all of the unpacking to come this week. We lucked out and had a beautiful weekend for all of the running around and I think we’re already getting comfortable in our new place.

I’m loving the HUGE sliding glass doors that we have!

This place definitely has more character than our last. It’s a 2-bedroom which is really going to come in handy with all of the visitors we’re having this year. Not to mention, it’s in a great area and walking distance to so many amazing restaurants! So many new places to try again, it’s like a whole new adventure.

I’ve also started working at a new gym which is now right around the corner. Seriously, it takes 5 minutes to walk there. Amazing! We’ve started a new California chapter this past weekend and I’m looking forward to seeing where this year takes us.

Food for Thought

What’s your favorite place you’ve ever lived?

Don’t forget to enter my She’s Losing It! giveaway!

What I’ve Learned From 1 Year in California

Happy [waddle] day after Thanksgiving! I hope you had a wonderful day yesterday and were able to spend time with your friends and family. I ate entirely too much [who doesn’t?] and I fully intend on doing the same thing tonight!

Trust me. There was WAY more food!

The Friday after Thanksgiving last year, Nathan and I packed up and shipped out to California. Thanksgiving was certainly an emotional day and I can’t believe 1 year has already passed. It’s pretty ironic that we’re back in Baltimore this week but it definitely feels good to be home. Over the past year we’ve had our ups and our downs. Nathan and I have had so many new experiences together that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I’ve learned so much in that time.

1. Nathan is my best friend.
   We couldn’t have done this without each other. We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders and strongest support systems. Moving away from all of your family and friends into an unknown world is scary and trying. Like I said, we’ve had our ups and downs, but ultimately, this experience has made us stronger and grow closer.
   
2. Making friends is tough!
   For real, I don’t know how kids do it. There has been a lot of trial and error and I’ve had a few people stick. I’m not really sure why they put up with me, but they do!
3. I’ve done a lot of growing up.
   I haven’t had much of a choice. Before Athleta and personal training, I spent a lot of time at home by myself. If there’s one thing that really makes you think about what you’re doing with your life, it’s spending hours of time alone. Sure, I may still question what I really want to do when I grow up, but hey, I’m only 27. I still have some time to figure that out.
4. California is a pretty cool place to live.
   Nathan and I have gone on so many mini road trips and fun adventures that we couldn’t have done in Maryland. From wineries to beaches right around the corner to incredible hikes to eating our way through the city, we’re certainly not taking our surroundings for granted.
   
5. Home is where the heart is.
   After everything is said and done, I love just being home. Every time we come home, it feels like we never left. The time that I’ve been able to spend with my family and friends is unbeatable. I cherish every minute with my grandparents and it’s so fun watching Jilly grow. Staying with my parents has been fun too; any extra time I can get with them, I’ll take!
   

It’s been a hell of a year and I can’t wait to see what the next year holds for us. I have a good feeling about 2015; it should definitely be another learning year but I think now that we have our feet set a bit more, things will fall into place.

Food for Thought

Does your family have a second night of Thanksgiving?
Have you moved far from your family before? What did you learn from the experience?

A Weekend in Instagram

Happy birthday, Mom!!

She’s a party animal 😉

Soon enough, my parents will be out here visiting us and we’ll be having just as much fun, right? 😉

This past weekend was nutso! Our furniture was delivered early Friday afternoon and after spending a full 2 days of unpacking, I still decided it was a good idea to go run the Hot Chocolate 5K. Obviously I’m glad I did though! So for you, I have lots of pictures to recap an otherwise uneventful weekend.

Started my weekend with a large almond milk latte. READY TO UNPACK!

Obviously the first beer we bought in California had to be the first beer we drank in our new place!

Salmon melt on ACME bread at The Bureau 510. Had to refuel big time after a long day!

Breakfast of Champions from Liba Falafel at the farmers’ market. There’s a poached egg in there.. and the rosemary peanuts and brussels slaw were ridiculous.

I was entirely too excited to finally get some dino kale from the farmers’ market. And this salad was crazy good! I missed my big bowls.

Spicy Pork Bibimbop, no rice, extra veg at Spoon. Definitely getting it this way every time.

Oh, you don’t eat oatmeal in your car before a race?

FINISHER! Time to eat entirely too much sugar. Worth it. It was no PR, but having not run in a few weeks, I’ll take a sub-25 min 5K.

Love meeting up with the SF Tone It Up girls! Great run yesterday 🙂

Ingested 100 lbs of sugar? Let’s have some veggies for lunch..

At this point, we’re almost totally unpacked and trying to make everything fit. If you have any creative storage tips, PLEASE share! I’ve been Pinterest-ing like a mad woman and am always open to more suggestions.

Food for Thought

Have you ever run a Hot Chocolate race?
What are your favorite creative storage tips?

Five Things Friday

Holy moly, what a week! In my attempt to take a quick breath [but not really], let’s do a little week wrap up, shall we?

1. IT’S FINALLY HAPPENING! We’re no longer hotel dwellers! We finally moved out of the hotel Thursday morning, slept on an air mattress last night, and the movers are delivering our things today. To say that I’m excited would be an understatement. Six weeks in a hotel is entirely too long.
   

   P.S. the internet is killer!

2. Funny story about entirely too long. Wednesday morning, someone staying in the hotel said to me “you were here last month, right?” Immediate thought was “oh great, now I’m being recognized..” Well, not only was he here last month, he’s been home and is now back. The lady that works the breakfast shift also disappointingly asked if I was leaving them as I was wheeling out a couple suitcases. It’s time.
   
3. My aunt and uncle got us a Vitamix for our wedding gift but we asked them to wait to order it until after we were moved in. Guess what was delivered on Thursday! Nut butters, smoothies, soups, and more.. HERE I COME! [Nut butters especially..]
   

   Roasted Coconut Peanut Butter – Peachy Palate

4. ALSO! My mom ordered me a spiralizer! That was another kitchen gadget I planned on getting as soon as we were settled but she beat me to the punch 🙂 I’ve been pinning away at some veggie noodle recipes and I cannot wait to start trying them.
   

   Roasted Butternut Squash Zucchini Pasta with Kale, Apricots, and Wheat Berries – Inspiralized

5. On Wednesday afternoon, Sweat Guru and OMPower teamed up for an Iron Yoga class. I absolutely love the idea of incorporating weights into yoga and was bummed that I couldn’t make it but with all things moving [yay!], it just wasn’t realistic. Luckily for me [and anyone else in the San Francisco area], they host classes every Wednesday at 2pm. Check it out!
   

   Iron Yoga with The Sweat Guru and OMPower

Welp, I guess it’s time to unpack! I’m hardly disappointed that I have to unpack so many boxes. I just can’t wait to have my stuff again. And sleep in my own bed! YES!

Food for Thought

What is the longest you’ve ever stayed in a hotel?
Share your favorite Vitamix recipe with me!

Sayonara

Also know as peace out. Yesterday was the beginning of the final leg of the move! I got the keys to our new place and started taking a couple things over. Today we’re officially out of the hotel and it’s starting to get really real. We’re finally going to be able to take full advantage of the farmers’ market, Berkeley Bowl, and more! And I hope to finally pretend to be grown ups and get some decorations for the place.

Before

This place is smaller than our last, but definitely nicer. I’m pretty psyched to have stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops! I’ll also be taking full advantage of Skype and my awesome interior designer friend, Jessie. Hopefully I’ll have an after shot to share with you pretty soon. But until then, this is going to be a crazy weekend!

Food for Thought

What are your favorite tips for maximizing space? Especially in the kitchen!

Five Things Friday

IT’S HERE!! IT’S FRIDAY! Can you tell I’m excited to sleep in and enjoy my rest day tomorrow? 😉

1. Despite all of my excitement, the clouds were looking rather ominous this morning. I packed up my rain boots, threw on my rain coat, and ran out of the house to head to work. Without an umbrella. And then it started raining while I was on the bus. Luckily I only have about 5 1/2 blocks of walking to my office once I get off the bus and the rain wasn’t coming down too hard yet.
   

   I’m going to miss this view..

2. I also broke out a new top today.. Target with the win!
   

   Oh hey work bathroom! It’s a good thing I’m not awkward at all.

3. Speaking of new finds, Marshalls came up big again the other day. I may have gone in looking for a bandana for my Halloween costume and a new coat, but I came away with these bad boys.
   

   Is this considered strange but good?

   They’re seriously delicious and I could probably eat the whole container in one sitting.

4. Another new find is Ceylon Cinnamon.
   

   Mmm this won’t take me long to get through!

   Typically you find Cassia Cinnamon at the grocery store which isn’t even really cinnamon! This Ceylon Cinnamon is from Sri Lanka and is a great source of Manganese, Fiber, Calcium and Iron. As for the difference, you definitely get a slightly spicier scent, especially when you add it to something hot [like coffee or oats!]. That same spicier scent is also something that you taste; it’s almost like a cinnamony-er cinnamon which I love! I would definitely recommend trying it out if you’re a cinnamon-lover like I am. You can buy it here from Amazon.

5. I can’t believe it’s November 1 already. That means it’s moving month already! And that means this weekend starts the packing. Anyone have boxes? Send em my way! Oh, and bring yourself to help pack too 😉

Food for Thought

Would you try pickled, hot brussels sprouts?

Have you ever tried Ceylon Cinnamon before? Did you notice a difference?

Do you have any fun plans for this weekend?

Baltimore Bucket List and Big News!

Between the blog and Twitter, I’ve mentioned my “bucket list” a few times. Nathan and I have recently created a list of restaurants that we’ve been wanting to try for a while now and are quickly working on getting to as many as we can. We figured it’s about time we get around to it since we have a month left in Baltimore. Yea, we’re moving to San Francisco. No big deal.

We recycle.

I lie.

It’s a really big deal!! Nathan was offered a promotion and we’re freaking MOVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY! We both grew up in Baltimore and have lived here our whole lives so to say this is a huge change would be an understatement. It’s very excited but also kind of scary; though it’s a scary challenge we’re ready to accept.

I’ve been waiting to break the news but it’s time and I want to get in touch with as many San Franciscans.. San Francisco-ans.. uhh, people of San Francisco as possible. So get in touch, people 🙂 We move out there the day after Thanksgiving so the time is quickly creeping up!

In the meantime, there are quite a few restaurants we’ve missed along the way and are trying to hit up before we leave. A couple of them we’ve happily crossed off the list and are trying to figure out a way to make it back!

• Birroteca – DONE!
  

  We celebrated our 10 year dating anniversary with an incredible meal!

• Verde Pizza – DONE! And more details to come 🙂
  

  The best pizza we’ve had since Italy.

• Jack’s Bistro
• Fork & Wrench
• Fleet Street Kitchen
• Peter’s Inn – Nathan had their BLT from the Fells Point Farmers’ Market a few weeks ago and if that is any indication of how the main restaurant is, we would be crazy to miss out.
• Ouzo Bay
• Chaps Pit Beef
• Lexington Market – Seriously. Everyone that visits Baltimore goes to Lexington Market and I’ve never been. It’s happening. I gotta get that crab cake from Faidley’s!
• Johnny Rads – More pizza and it’s going to be tough to match what we’ve already had!
• Of Love and Regret – We’ve been here twice before but I’d love to make it back once more. These are the brewers of Stillwater so they have a killer beer list!
• Annabel Lee Tavern – Another place we’ve been a few times but they have the best crab cake in Baltimore! You can’t get blue crab on the west coast..

It’s certainly a Marvelous Monday..

Now I need to hear from all of you..

Baltimore friends – what restaurants am I missing from my list? Anything I absolutely need to try before I leave?

San Francisco friends – talk to me! I want to get in touch! Let’s get coffee [Irish, maybe? ;}] Let’s do lunch, let’s do a 5K. Basically.. hit me up 🙂