Wellness, balance, creativity, and life in my 40s

For a long time, wellness for me looked very different.

There was a season where my life revolved around fertility treatments, doctor appointments, and trying everything I could to make my body “work.” I went through phases of keto, gluten free, dairy free, supplements, Eastern medicine, Western medicine… constantly searching for answers and hoping the next thing would finally be the thing that changed everything.

And somewhere in all of that, I honestly felt like I lost parts of myself.

Food stopped feeling joyful.
Life started feeling like a checklist.
I was surviving more than actually living.

When I moved from LA to San Diego in 2015 and got married, I thought life would unfold a certain way. But life has a way of rewriting the story for us sometimes.

Now in my 40s, I feel like I’m reintroducing myself not just to everyone else, but to myself too.

I still have seasons of struggle, but I don’t share every part of my life online the way I used to. I think getting older has taught me that not everything needs to be explained publicly. Some things are meant to be worked through quietly with God, with family, and with the people closest to you.

And honestly, I feel grateful for the life I’ve built here in San Diego. Looking back, I feel like there was guidance leading me here all along, even during the seasons where I felt lost.

These days, I see life very differently.

To me, success isn’t about constantly chasing the corporate ladder anymore or feeling locked into a version of life that doesn’t feel fulfilling. It’s about having my health. A strong marriage. Family. Friends. A roof over my head. Being able to travel, enjoy a good meal, laugh with loved ones, and create a life that feels peaceful and meaningful.

That’s what life feels like to me now.

And somewhere along the way, I found myself again.

I still love food. Probably even more now.
I love movement that feels sustainable.
Affordable skincare and makeup that actually works.
Simple recipes for busy days.
Finding little moments of joy around Southern California.
Trying new restaurants.
Working out outside of expensive studios.
Creating content because I genuinely love creating.

Diet and Fries has grown with me through all these chapters, and now this space is becoming a reflection of what wellness looks like for me today: realistic, balanced, evolving, and full of life.

If you’re also in a season of figuring yourself out again, starting over, redefining what happiness looks like, or learning how to slow down and appreciate the simple things… you’re not alone here.