If we were having coffee right now…

Coffee  1 of 1 4

We’d probably be at one of the cute cafes near the beach. We have quite a few amazing spots around here -each time I walk around, I see yet another place Iโ€™d like to check out- and it’s totally normal to:  a) not be wearing any shoes, and/or b) bring in an enormous standard poodle with you. So, needless to say, it would be pretty casual ๐Ÿ˜‰ We’d sit out on the patio because the weather has been dreamy this week.

I’d want to hear about what you’re up to! What’s going on this summer? Any fun vacations or travels planned? How’s life? The job? Kiddos/pets?

Iโ€™d tell you how excited I am for all of our summer company. Kyle and Meg are coming, then our babysitter from Tucson is staying for a while (she takes online courses from a school here and visits often), then my dad, stepmom and little brothers, and finally MIL, SIL and our nephew! Aaaand there’s a family wedding and my nanaโ€™s birthday bash in there, too. Itโ€™s going to be a great summer. My plan is to keep the guest bedroom and bathroom ready to go at all times because the door is open for friends and family when they get a spare weekend. The distance made it harder for people to visit us in Valdosta, but things are a little different here. The 5 1/2 hour drive helps!

Speaking of driving, I have to tell you how much I LIKE the freeways here. I never thought Iโ€™d see the day, but Iโ€™m a huge fan. In Tucson, you take regular streets to get around which takes longer to get from one side of town to the other. Thereโ€™s no central freeway, so my first time getting on I-10 in my high school driving course I hit a box, got yelled at, and was mildly traumatized. The freeway eventually became my friend when we traveled around Valdosta and I like to think Iโ€™ve gotten the hang of it here. So quick and convenient to get around town even though thereโ€™s some gnarly traffic.

I’d probably tell you about the things of late. In between mom/wife life and the little blog here, I’ve been cranking along with book edits and hustling to get my own classes. While I’m looking forward to the time when I have my set routine, it is kind of fun to change up my workouts for the week based on the classes I get to sub or shadow. The word โ€œroutineโ€ seems pretty foreign for now since every day I feel like Iโ€™m flying by the seat of my pants. I’d probably also try and talk to you into coming to my next Zumba class ๐Ÿ˜‰ It looks like barre and Zumba are going to be my staples here. My personal workouts are runs along the beach, Orangetheory, and yoga (I canโ€™t wait to get back into it!). You might ask me about my upcoming half marathon and how training has been going. Itโ€™s been as good as can be expected with everything else going on. Iโ€™ll be picturing the fresh juices dancing for me at the finish line.

At one point or another, Iโ€™d probably tell you HOW STOKED I AM that we have renters for our Tucson house. Paying for two houses for the past few months has not been enjoyable, but we really wanted to keep our Tucson house. The Pilot totally gave me the side eye on this one, but I said I want to sell our Tucson house in a few years and if we move back. After living in this quaint little historic house, Iโ€™d like something similar in Tucson. 

Iโ€™d also tell you that we need to try one of the breakfast treats on the counter. Letโ€™s take it to the beach ๐Ÿ™‚ 

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60 Comments

  1. joelle @ on a pink typewriter on May 29, 2014 at 11:12 am

    Ummm, I can totally get coffee with you lady! Let’s do it one of these days!

  2. joelle @ on a pink typewriter on May 29, 2014 at 11:12 am

    Ummm, I can totally get coffee with you lady! Let’s do it one of these days!

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 11:15 am

      yes, finally! let me know what your week is like next week ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Livi on May 29, 2014 at 11:14 am

    Yay renters! That’s such a huge burden off you guys!

  4. FitBritt@MyOwnBalance on May 29, 2014 at 11:16 am

    Barre, Zumba and the beach… girl, I am jealous of your life! Haha. So glad things are working out for you in Cali and you will get to see your family a lot this summer. I’m excited to be traveling to Cape Cod most weekends this summer to see mine!

  5. RachelG on May 29, 2014 at 11:18 am

    I love these posts! ๐Ÿ™‚ I would definitely want to hear all about the house stuff because since the husband and I bought our house I’m a little real estate obsessed. House Hunters makes my soul happy, even when crazy paint color obsessed people are on it. lol!

    I’d have a chai-esq something or other and talk about getting excited for my upcoming bday and winery tour celebration with friends, starting the process of setting up a yoga class for inmates at a local correctional facilty, and my upcoming California vacation that I’m dreaming about. I really hope that you are able to set up some weekly classes because I would LOVE to attend them while I’m in San Diego! I’d say there is a 75% chance I could convince my husband to go to a Barre class with me and about a 9% chance to a Zumba one. ๐Ÿ˜‰ Cheers!

    • Annie on May 29, 2014 at 9:21 pm

      Haha yes! Those paint obsessed people on House Hunters! Rachel, you’re a girl after my own heart!
      Cheers,
      Annie

  6. Kirsten on May 29, 2014 at 11:22 am

    As I sit in my office at work and read your post – I so wish that I could come and hang with you! I would bring my little maltepoo Scruffy so he could play with Bella ๐Ÿ™‚ He is very sassy just like your little one. And…I think that I would have a nice iced tea, because the weather just calls for it!

    Have a fab day!

  7. Melissa on May 29, 2014 at 11:24 am

    I have a question that I’d ask if we were having coffee. I’m thinking of a west coast vacation with the fam. The boys are 10 and 8. I believe you’ve sited SF and now living in SD- what would you choose? We usually go south to hang at one of the beaches but I’m looking at other options.

    YAY for renters- we paid for two house for over a year! Very stressful.

    Enjoy the beach!

    Melissa

  8. Pip {Cherries & Chisme} on May 29, 2014 at 11:26 am

    Love this post! I would tell you how content you are sounding right now and how nice it is to hear ๐Ÿ™‚ and that my life is kind of limbo land right now with a month left in Argentina before moving home to the UK full of excitement and fears all at one… and that I have some struggles too but the moments when you sit down with friends and just laugh about nothing take it all away for a few glorious hours ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Jackie on May 29, 2014 at 11:38 am

    A coffe chat sounds perfect right now!

  10. cait @pieceofcait on May 29, 2014 at 11:42 am

    love these kinda posts! this summer I will be… traveling to Greece, being an aunt in JULY!, gardening, beach trips, and lots and lots of family time<3

  11. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on May 29, 2014 at 11:45 am

    I’m so glad you found renters!! Zumba and barre are my favorite workouts. How exciting to be establishing new classes and routines!

  12. Kristen @ Vitamin K Girl on May 29, 2014 at 12:01 pm

    What a cute post! It was like we were really having coffee together:-) I have really been enjoying your posts about adapting to life in San Diego. My husband and I have thrown around the idea of moving to Cali since we’ve been together, and now it’s looking like it might happen in the near future. Thanks for helping me mentally prepare!

  13. Jessie on May 29, 2014 at 12:04 pm

    Aww, I really enjoyed reading more about your normal life :). You do such a great job of keepin’ it real on here, it’s refreshing! So great that your family is fairly close, what a blessing, and YAY for renters!

    I am sitting in my office cubicle thinking of ways to enjoy this summer and not letting it slip by too fast- Saturdays on the lake with friends, dog park visits, lots of reading by the pool/on the porch.

  14. Brynn on May 29, 2014 at 12:05 pm

    If we were having coffee, I would tell you that my motivation and productivity is through the roof this week. I have been focusing on quality over quantity and it is paying off. I love sitting in the moment and being present – a cup of coffee in hand of course.

  15. Jennifer on May 29, 2014 at 12:15 pm

    I am in. I would LOVE to grab coffee with you! What a beautiful post – you so eloquently share your dreams, what you care about day to day, and how much you care for others. ๐Ÿ™‚ Really very lovely.

    After having been on a long trip (7 weeks) away from home in some wonderful and challenging conditions, I feel so grateful for my husband and I’s life, my work split between a non-profit I adore and teaching Pilates, and Colorado warming up for summertime. We’re visiting my brother in law over the weekend, have some fun concert plans sprinkled throughout the coming months, and will be seeing my family at the beach in the fall. But it’s really the every day things right now that make me feel like I’m glowing inside. There’s my ‘cheesiness’ for the day. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Hope you enjoy your day, congrats again on your work integrating into the fitness community in SD! xoxo

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:36 pm

      sounds like you have a wonderful summer ahead, too ๐Ÿ™‚
      it makes my heart happy to hear that everything is going so well for you!
      enjoy the rest of your night <3

  16. Polly @ Tasty Food Project on May 29, 2014 at 12:17 pm

    I wish I lived near a beach! I would be there all the time! I’m going to Maui next month for my friend’s wedding and I’m so excited to lay out on the beach!

  17. Sara @ LovingOnTheRun on May 29, 2014 at 12:18 pm

    It sounds so amazing there! I’d tell you we are moving next week and the panic is starting to finally hit! Though, I am looking forward to taking advantage of our last few days here with the friends we’ve met.

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:35 pm

      good luck to you with the move!

  18. Alisha @ Alisha's Appetite on May 29, 2014 at 12:29 pm

    Love that you’re enjoying everything SD has to offer! I’d tell you that I have 4 weddings to go to this summer, a couple of camping trips planned and I’m stoked.

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:35 pm

      4 weddings!! so fun ๐Ÿ™‚

  19. Julie on May 29, 2014 at 12:37 pm

    I agree with you – your SD home is super cute (from what we’ve seen) and I love something smaller and historic too!

  20. Liz @ The Sixth Letter on May 29, 2014 at 12:46 pm

    These posts, among others, are why I continue reading your blog. I feel like so many blogs lose this personal touch as they grow, but you have actively maintained it and I really, really, REALLY appreciate that voice.

    If we were having coffee, I’d talk about how having three months off from school/work is exciting and scary. When you have the privilege of a lot of free time, there’s also a lot of responsibility around how to spend it. And how in three months, I’m moving away from the state I’ve lived in my whole life, to start graduate school in a field that is lightyears away from my undergraduate degree (undergrad: English, graduate: nutrition). I’d talk about how that’s scary and exciting too. I’d talk about how I’m meditating more and doing yoga regularly to cope with all these changes, plus a healthy dose of chocolate. ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:35 pm

      thank you so much, liz! i really appreciate it <3
      sounds like you have exciting changes ahead of you. yoga always helps me with transitional periods, too ๐Ÿ™‚
      lots of love to you <3

  21. Crystal on May 29, 2014 at 1:01 pm

    Your SD home looks like it has so much character–sometimes I wonder if my husband and I should have bought an older home with more character instead of a new one in the suburbs. I’m sure we’ll move again at some point, so that’ll be something to think about.

    If we had coffee together, I’d tell you that I am in dire need of a tropical vacation, far far away from work, lol. I’d also tell you how I’ve had fresh kale smoothies (with kale from our garden!) every day for the past 2 weeks. So nothing too exciting, but that’s not always a bad thing ๐Ÿ˜‰

    It sounds like you have a lot to look forward to this summer! Enjoy!

  22. mary on May 29, 2014 at 1:18 pm

    I want to move to San Diego so badly. I suppose I should go read up on the cost of living/housing there so I feel cured of it for a bit! That usually does it, for a while. ; )

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:34 pm

      haha that always halts the urge.. for a little while ๐Ÿ™‚
      xoxo

  23. Tracy on May 29, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    I love having coffee with you ๐Ÿ˜‰ I wish I really was at the beach though! So true what you said about the dogs in coffeehouses (and everywhere). That’s one of the things I noticed the last time I was in SD.. dogs in and outside all over the place and totally normal. Love it!! It’s definitely not like that here in Kansas city!

    You have such a FUN summer ahead! Lots to look forward to for sure. I’ll be chasing my kids around to football and cross country practices, the pool and such. I love summer SO much! It goes by too quickly.

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:33 pm

      i totally agree! wish it would stick around a little longer ๐Ÿ™‚
      and yes on the dog thing! tucson is kind of dog friendly, but it’s a different level here
      hope you’re having a great week <3

    • Jessie on May 29, 2014 at 9:22 pm

      Yay KC! I wish we had more dog friendly places here….

  24. Alex @ Kenzie Life on May 29, 2014 at 1:57 pm

    Congrats on getting some renters for your Tucson house! I bet that is a huge relief! It sounds like you have a great summer planned and I’m so glad you’ll get to spend a lot of time with your family! I just landed in Las Vegas this morning so it’s nice to have a few days off work to see my family that lives out here and enjoy some time shopping and eating out! Not to mention some time at the pool! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:32 pm

      have so much fun in vegas! love those vegas pools ๐Ÿ™‚

  25. Rhiannon @ Bound to be a Buckeye on May 29, 2014 at 2:30 pm

    You have one exciting summer! Our plans are to keep making changes to our house to make it more “ours” landscaping is the big one. We just got back from Vegas, but I’m hoping for one more getaway this summer โ€ฆ. maybe a beach since your pictures are so beautiful.

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:31 pm

      sounds like a plan!!
      good luck with the landscaping adventures, too ๐Ÿ™‚

  26. Meg @ A Dash of Meg on May 29, 2014 at 2:48 pm

    i so wish i was having coffee with you!!!!!!!! xo

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:30 pm

      get over here! ๐Ÿ™‚

  27. Neiry on May 29, 2014 at 2:51 pm

    If we had coffee together I would tell you that since the last time we chatted, I’ve completed my thesis and successfully defended it. I would tell you that it ended up consisting of directing a show, creating an original script and performing it as a one-woman show. I would tell you that this year has been one of the most difficult & that what I’ve learned most is that the only people that deserve time in your life are the ones who show up. I would also tell you that I can’t believe I now have an M.A. in a field I hadn’t taken a single course in 4 years ago.
    I would tell you that tending to responsibilities and obligations has made me put my health on the back-burner and I am most definitely feeling it. Also, that reading your blog inspires me to make small changes, little by little, and to be kind to myself. I would thank you.And then I would mention that when I was walking around World Market yesterday I found myself in front of a jar of pickled eggs and curiosity got the best of me. I would tell you TO NOT EVER let curiosity get the best of you when it concerns pickled eggs from a store. Unless you like rubbery white vinegar all up in the crevices of your mouth reminding you every 5 minutes that you made a BAD decision. Adventurous, but bad.
    And then I’d say “…. but I’d still try sriracha pickled eggs. You in?”

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:30 pm

      NO. WAY. you are amazing!! congratulations on everything you’ve accomplished.
      and the eggs… they sound horrifying. but yes, i would join you in some sriracha pickled eggs ๐Ÿ˜‰

  28. Masala Girl on May 29, 2014 at 3:14 pm

    I’d tell you I JUST GOT A JOB AT WHOLE FOODS! and I am stoaaaaaked!

    also, i will be paying more attention to the blog now, i hope ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:29 pm

      DUUUUUUUUDE! congrats!

      • Masala Girl on June 2, 2014 at 9:18 am

        thank youuuu ๐Ÿ˜€ yay summer!

  29. Gianna @ Run, Lift, Repeat on May 29, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    Love the note about picturing juices at the finish. I spend half my races usually dreaming about what I will consume after the finish ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:28 pm

      haha seriously! suja is sponsoring it, so i’m thinking there will be lots of lovely juices and snacks at the finish line

  30. Megan @ The Skinny-Life on May 29, 2014 at 4:22 pm

    I wish I was having coffee with you after one of your Zumba classes!

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:28 pm

      me too!!

  31. Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment on May 29, 2014 at 4:33 pm

    Nice post! Glad you found renters. It’s my dream to live by the beach though. ๐Ÿ™‚

  32. Lisa @ Life as Lisa Knows It on May 29, 2014 at 6:33 pm

    My husband and I will be in CA in July. We’re going to Palm Springs but also want to go to San Dieg o for a day. I would LOVE any recommendations you have about what to do / where to eat! It will be my first time ever in CA, so I am SO excited!! ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on May 29, 2014 at 7:27 pm

      true food at fashion valley, cafe by the bay (peanut butter acai bowls), hiking at torrey pines and see the sea lions, walk around la jolla, drinks at tower 23 in pacific beach, breakfast at the cottage in la jolla ๐Ÿ™‚

  33. Jay on May 29, 2014 at 8:00 pm

    Sounds fun!

  34. shaina on May 29, 2014 at 10:09 pm

    coffee in san diego – the things my dreams are made of haha. Making a trip asap.

    I’d tell you that I’m SO glad to be settled in our new house, even though doing everything in 2 weeks just about killed me. Having a bunch of boxes sitting around a non-toddler-friendly house would have killed me faster though, so there’s that. I’d tell you I can’t wait to go to bed at 8pm all next week after this epic keg party is over and I have NOTHING on my calendar or to do list…until my “virgo in major nesting mode” status kicks into overdrive in about a week. I can’t wait to just relax on the beach with my little boy for a short 8ish weeks until Miss Ryleigh decides its time to come out! It has been a CRAZY month to say the least.

    Have so much fun this weekend!

  35. Morgan on May 29, 2014 at 11:03 pm

    This was a very cute post!! I like the more personal Gina posts!!

  36. crystal hodgson on May 30, 2014 at 12:01 am

    Love these posts! SO fun!

    If we were having cofee I would ask you for motivation- I juuuuust got back into the gym and Les Mills BodyPump SLAYED me today! I would commiserate with how hard it can be to fit in a work out when you are busy! I would want to hear allll the deets about your book!

    xo

    • Fitnessista on May 30, 2014 at 11:04 am

      <3!!

      • Fitnessista on May 30, 2014 at 11:04 am

        did you do the next release?? it KILLS

  37. Gina on May 30, 2014 at 8:47 am

    Hi GIna – If we were having coffee right now I’d tell you about how much you’ve inspired me to expand my fitness horizons. I started taking Spin classes a few months ago and I’ve lost a few inches everywhere. I also took a Les Mills Body Flow class which I LOVED and can’t wait to go again.
    I would tell you that I’m really happy that your transition to California seems to have inspired you in many ways. I see it in your blog posts!

    I’d also tell you that you’re one awesome mom to Liv & the pups!

    Your blog friend Gina from Mass

    • Fitnessista on May 30, 2014 at 11:03 am

      thank you so much, name twin ๐Ÿ™‚
      i’m so glad you loved blog flow, too! i still haven’t tried that one but they offer it at the gym. need to check it out!
      hope you have a wonderful weekend <3

  38. Lola Lam on May 30, 2014 at 10:21 am

    I love “if we were having coffee…” posts! I am so envious of your southern cali weather and surroundings. I feel like you have so many cool fitness options all around you. It sounds like such an interesting place to be!

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