So, how did I get here?

I grew up in Newport, Rhode Island. The cobblestone streets, colonial homes, and Gilded Age mansions sparked my fascination with the stories of the past and their influence on the present, which eventually fueled my curiosity about the wider world.

That itch to explore took me more than 1,500 miles away for my undergraduate degree in history at Tulane University in New Orleans. Living in a city with such a distinct culinary perspective also inspired a new interest in food and its cultural significance.

A few years later, I packed up again to spend my junior year abroad in Spain and developed a lifelong love of travel. But it wasn’t without challenges: Living in Madrid during the 2004 train bombings and later in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina marked significant moments in my life.

After the flood, I stayed in New Orleans to pursue a graduate degree while working at a nonprofit focused on equity in the disaster's aftermath. However, I eventually realized academia wasn’t for me and never finished my degree. Instead, I felt drawn to something else—something food-related—and decided to follow that after being laid off during the Great Recession.

Next, I moved to New York City for work related to my growing focus on food.

I joined AmeriCorps and worked at a community center, farmers market, and community garden in the Bronx. When that year-long project wrapped up, I took a job as a cheesemonger at Murray’s Cheese. Celebrities like Martha Stewart (she’d send her assistant) and Marisa Tomei were regular customers. But as a big music fan, my favorite moment was helping Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode choose a nice English cheddar.

My next move was to Austin, Texas, where I discovered my knack for writing. While working at the University of Texas, colleagues often turned to me for help with their reports, which gave me the confidence to start a food blog. That blog connected me to Austin's dynamic culinary scene, prompting my first pitch to a small local publication. Landing that first byline gave me the boost I needed to continue aiming for bigger outlets.

Before long, I was interviewing legendary chefs like Rick Bayless and sipping vodka cocktails with Tito Beveridge (yes, of Tito’s Vodka) in his backyard. Then I moved to the Washington, D.C. area and joined Eater DC as associate editor, covering restaurant openings, profiling chefs, and editing stories—until my husband's job took us abroad.

Belgium was my base for seeing and writing about Europe and beyond.

In addition to writing stories about destinations on the continent, I also interviewed a Michelin-starred hawker in Singapore, reported on a boat safari in Botswana, and flew to Jerusalem on a solo trip.

Experiencing the travel writing lifestyle was a dream come true, but it came at a cost. All those decadent meals, late nights, and long-haul flights left me out of shape. Ironically, I couldn’t even fully enjoy incredible opportunities like surfing in El Salvador, skiing in Switzerland, or hiking in Peru. I stayed in denial about how much the nonstop travel was impacting my health until a family health crisis forced me to face a tough question. 

Could I sustain this lifestyle without sacrificing my well-being? The answer was no. 

The pandemic made me rethink my priorities. While stuck at my new home in upstate New York, I set an ambitious goal: hiking the Long Trail, a 272-mile trek through Vermont’s rugged Green Mountains. With no backpacking experience, I focused on getting in shape and learning to use my gear. During that month I spent navigating the backcountry alone, I wanted to quit plenty of times (especially on days I had to pitch my tent in pouring rain or sank thigh-deep into mud). But, eventually, I reached the terminus. It remains my proudest accomplishment to date.

Today, I still call Albany, New York home. On weekends, you’ll find me spending time with my husband and daughter, visiting family in Rhode Island, or uncovering worthwhile destinations in the Northeast U.S. that I highlight in my newsletter.

My days of nonstop travel may be behind me, at least temporarily, but my love of exploration (and great food and drinks!) hasn’t waned. I still take big trips, like hiking the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim, now and then. In fact, I've found the best adventures strike a balance between exertion and indulgence. A long day on the slopes practically demands an après-ski beer, and a challenging hike makes the reward of pizza and ice cream taste even better. 

That philosophy led me to add health and wellness to the mix of topics I cover, alongside food and travel.

These days, I balance writing for top publications with branded content, marketing copy, and editing. My favorite projects, no matter the client, encourage readers to take a chance and try something new—whether that's a fitness trend, an unfamiliar cheese, or finally booking that dream trip.

Life’s too short to sit on the sidelines, so I'm here to empower readers to make the most of it.