I am a loving wife and mom, daughter and friend, and an encourager to everyone I cross paths with. I always have a smile on my face, and motivate others to live happy and fulfilling lives. My hobbies include cooking healthy meals for my family, and being a Disney enthusiast.
I have lived in Suntree for almost four years now. Prior to moving to Florida, our family traveled around the country, living in many different states before settling on the Sunshine State as our forever home. I am originally from Staten Island, New York, and received a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University. I no longer pursue a career in architecture, as my true passion is serving others and turning my life long struggle with my weight into my strength to inspire others that they can overcome their battles as well.
After battling food addiction for my entire life and succumbing to the vicious cycle of yo-yo dieting, I decided to conquer my life long struggle once and for all in 2017. I made the decision to start a program that would teach me healthier habits, and provide the tools that would create the mindset shift needed for a healthy lifestyle and long term success. I was so overjoyed and thankful for finally finding a solution to my own health struggles, that I decided to pay it forward and start helping others who were battling the same problems I faced for years. Now, as a transformation coach, I teach others how to make lifestyle changes that lead to lifelong transformation, in many areas, including healthy eating and hydration, healthy weight management, healthy mind, healthy motion, healthy sleep and energy management, and healthy surroundings.
Being a transformation coach allows me to inspire and assist men and women all over the world to live their best life possible. I particularly enjoy helping other moms who often lose themselves in the responsibilities of motherhood. My greatest joy in coaching comes from empowering other women to take back their confidence and teaching them how to create coaching businesses of their own, through my business coaching and mentoring. The goal is to give my clients the tools and skills they need to live happy, whole and fulfilling lives, and to create a life centered around what matters most to them individually. The goal of each client who successfully completes the program is to achieve a healthy body, a healthy mind, and healthy finances.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My family means everything to me. I am happily married to my husband James, and together we have an eleven year old daughter, Valentina, and a family dog named Yogi Bear who is a little over a year old. My husband and my daughter are my WHYs to be the best version of myself that I can be, so I can be the best mother and wife to them. Without my family I would not feel complete.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I love being a transformation coach. It is so fulfilling to watch someone transform into the best version of themself, not just physically, but mentally as well. When you fill our own cup and take care of your own needs, you show up better in every aspect of life.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Tuscany Grill, Islands Fish Grill
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community? And what brought you here?
Our family moved to the Space Coast of Florida in 2019. We always knew we wanted to live somewhere that was warm year round, and someplace that would provide a better quality of life than the other states we have lived in. My husband’s aviation career allowed us to finally make the move almost four years ago.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community? Why?
Kelli Bell Bono is the most loving, kind, and down to earth soul I have met here in our community. She is a beacon of light and pours love into everyone she meets. Kelli is strong in her faith and abundant in her efforts to serve the commimunity in so many ways. She is a wonderful mom, entrepreneur and business woman. She is so passionate about everything she does and I admire her tenacity to create her own business, Keep Me Safe Naturals.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I love all Disney Pixar movies. I’m a kid at heart. As far as TV shows, I don’t really watch TV.
Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Life is not going to turn out the way you have it planned out in your head. So instead of worrying so much about the destination, enjoy the journey.
Q: What is something on your bucket list? Why?
Traveling to Italy and Greece via a Mediterranean Cruise is on the top of my short term bucket list. Something I would eventually love to do is fly all over the world in a single engine airplane, with my husband as the pilot. This idea was inspired by the ride Soarin’ Around the World at Epcot.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to? Why?
To be completely honest, I don’t listen to music often. Sometimes I listen to music in the car but most often, I prefer silence. Occasionally I listen to audio books or podcasts. Back when CDs were popular, I had a full collection, but now that they are obsolete, I didn’t really adapt to the changing technology and still prefer FM radio.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I would choose to have lunch with Oprah Winfrey. She is one of the most influential female entrepreneurs in our society, and someone I can learn from when it comes to women empowerment. We would meet at River Rocks for the ambiance and the fresh seafood.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
My favorite thing about our community is the people. Everyone is so kind and welcoming, I feel like I have lived here for many, many years.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
The goal is to live a life of adventure and freedom, without limitations. In 10 years I see my husband and myself retired, having a second home somewhere tropical, and the ability to travel wherever and whenever.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Despite my outgoing personality, I can be introverted as well. Most times, I would rather spend a quiet night at home watching a movie in my comfy pajamas, over a big gathering.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10? Why?
Italy: the culture, the food, the people, the history, the architecture. It’s all so beautiful and I had an incredible experience studying abroad there for several months during my college years, getting to travel to all the different regions from the bustling cities to the quiet countryside. The entire country is amazing.
Q: Who inspires you to be better? How?
My daughter inspires me to be better because I want to be the best female role model for her, showing her that anything she can dream, she can create. My husband is also a great encourager to me, inspiring me to be better and do better for myself daily.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Loving, Safe, Family
