My Story

 
meet kelly.JPG

Hello, my name is Kelly.

I'm a healthy foodie, wellness-loving, best-life-building, mama-to-be redhead.

Welcome babe, I'm so glad you stopped by!

My name is Kelly and I am a travel marketing exec + social media strategist by day, with a serious passion for leveling up. To put it simply: I’m a healthy foodie, fitness-loving, best-life-building wifey at heart. 

| I love food |

As long as I can remember, I've been obsessed with food. I grew up in a fairly traditional Irish-Italian family, where we pride ourselves on always finishing our plate. I am also really fortunate to have a family who believes in good food. My Mother never let a meal go by that didn't include at least one vegetable and a salad. My Father, a carpenter by trade, still adores tending to his garden. My Nana, well she puts Martha Stewart to shame and knows how to throw one heck of a party. I learned from the best. 

I originally started my Instagram to prevent my friends from being bombarded by my favorite meal-of-the-day...and to my surprise they encouraged more!

After being dealt some thankfully minor {but frustrating and on-going} health issues, I turned to food to fuel, nourish and heal my body. Among other things, I suffered from chronic migraines and live with high-functioning anxiety {first time I said that out loud, yikes!} - cooking and preparing beautiful, insta-worthy meals is amazingly calming for me. But as much as a I love green smoothies and kale salads, I also believe in not depriving yourself.

As my passion for nutrition has evolved, so has a real love for fitness.

| my journey back to wellness |

I was never athletic or a 'gym-goer' but over the last several years I have watched my myself physically and mentally grow stronger than I ever imagined. A year out from our wedding I committed myself to weightlifting. I wasn't seeing the physical progress I desired from the various ‘bikini body’ training apps and programs that have infiltrated social media. I needed more.

My love for lifting quickly grew; it made me feel powerful, gave me a different kind of adrenaline than cardio and it became a huge stress reliever for me. That curiosity led me to explore competitive bodybuilding and before I knew it I had interviewed and contracted a coach to train me in all aspects of nutrition and training to prepare for my first season as a competitive bikini athlete.

Fast forward to today, after 2 years of back to back competing and I decided to DIAL IT WAY BACK. My focus changed, I outgrew the desire to control my physical appearance AND most importantly we are ready to try and start a family! Life has a funny way of making you stop in your tracks sometimes, refocus and re-prioritize. Fitness will ALWAYS be a part of me, but I’m comfortably settling back into a wellness perspective, as opposed to a structured, all-in-or-nothing gym grind.

I am so excited to share with you my journey of self growth and self awareness (and hopefully mama-hood!) because carving out this little space of Internet has really helped me come out of my shell.

| my life, unfiltered |

So what will you find here? Well food, for sure. My favorite home cooked meals, the best of the best plates I’ve indulged in while dining out, some local faves, creative recipes along with nutrient-dense treats and of course some snaps from my life on Cape Cod. But I also want to use this platform for motivation and inspiration; a place where I can share my testimony. Show you real life through the lens of your average 30-something female trying to figure it all out. Quite simply, this is a place where I can be totally 100% authentically ME. 

A few more minor deets:

  • I love wine - red, white, rosé - yup, all of it.

  • I believe in balance - as much as bodybuilding is a sport of exact nutrition, I have found ways to stay true-to-me. Right now I’m in what I call a ‘resetting season’, just enjoying BEING without a structured plan or program.

  • I'm a wifey - married my best friend, #1 fan and love of my life in June 2018!

  • I'm a proud rescue dog mama - sooo many shameless plugs for my forever puppy, Jax.

  • I'm also a professional beach-goer, coffee addict, avocado obsessed, constant learner, adventure seeker, sister, daughter, best friend and 100% not perfect, hope you're ready for some #realtalk.

| my offer to YOU |

Now enough about me, you’re probably wondering what the heck I think I can offer YOU?

I’ve been asked often for my advice, for my tips, what’s worked for me, what hasn’t, what I cook or how I eat, what supplements I take, what I read, etc. so here I am, willing to put it all out there on the table.

Let’s cut through that insta-hype together. Real women, real accountability, real strategies that have worked for me and can easily be ADOPTED and ADAPTED by you. Whatever your goal {fitness, wellness, career gains, self love and self care} I am dedicated to helping everyday women create a life they love. No shortcuts, no cookie-cutter plan — just an up close and personal look at the nitty gritty lifestyle changes I have made that have resulted in a healthier, happier, more grateful version of me.

Take a look around, if you like what you see, let’s connect! Thank you all for the support, I hope I keep you entertained Xo