After Justin won the National Championship, we decided it was time for a new
chapter. We sold our fixer- upper in Quebec and moved back to the Finger Lakes,
where we bought a townhome on the water. It was a somewhat relaxing summer...the kind filled with family dinners, lake sunsets, and the kind of quiet that helps you catch your breath (at least a little).
But in the background, we were both trying to figure out what came next.
Soon, Justin started getting calls and decided to take a leap coaching professional hockey. It was an exciting shift for our family, moving from college hockey to the pros.
Around the same time, I found out I was pregnant, which made the decision to uproot once again even more meaningful and just a little terrifying.
So, we packed up the townhome, turned it into a rental, kept our other property as an Airbnb, and set our sights south, all the way to the Florida Panhandle.
The Journey South
We tackled the drive in two days, stopping overnight in Louisville, Kentucky (if ever in Louisville I highly recommend getting the pulled pork sandwich from Momma's Mustard, Pickles & BBQ) before continuing south.
Moving across the country with a toddler, a dog, and a baby on the way isn’t for the faint of heart.
I was nervous about changing doctors and navigating everything that comes with pregnancy on the move, but I decided I was going to try really hard to take it day by day. I made my lists, focused on small wins, and reminded myself that progress doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to move forward.
Now, a little over a month in, the hockey season is gearing up to start, and we finally feel settled enough to decorate our front porch (a huge win).
Our New Home
We’ve been so blessed. Not only did we find some amazing deals on furniture and décor (I’ll share a few favorites below!), but the organization here went above and beyond to help us feel at home. They placed us in the most beautiful house in the most special neighborhood. The kind you don’t find just anywhere anymore.
It’s an old-school community where kids play outside every night, the ice cream truck makes its rounds on Sunday evenings, and everyone waves when they pass by. People are kind, the pace is slower, and life just feels a little softer here. Maybe this is what everyone means by southern hospitality.
What Change Consistently Teaches Me
Change has a way of shaking you up...sometimes in the best possible way. It reminds you of what truly matters:
Family. A close-knit circle of friends. Faith. And the courage to start fresh.
It’s never too late to begin again.
Someone once told me, “Kelsey, if you’re always waiting for the perfect moment to try something new, it’s never going to come because life has a way of throwing unexpected curveballs.”
That’s always stuck with me, because it’s true. There will always be something that stirs doubt: finances, the economy, career shifts, timing. Excuses are easy to find. But it’s up to you to decide whether to let them win, or to take the bull by the horns and ride out the adventure.
I choose excitement. I choose new beginnings. And I choose to teach our children not to be afraid to try.
That’s the hardest part sometimes, because we live in a world that makes it so easy to stay cautious, to hesitate, to hold back. Watching the news can make you want to retreat and stay small. But life isn’t meant to be lived in hiding.
Things won’t always go as planned, and that’s okay. Whatever happens, happens. What matters most is that we keep showing up, keep moving forward, and keep believing that the unknown might just be where the best parts of life begin.
I saw a Great Blue Heron the other day. Just standing there staring at me. Herons have always carried special meaning for me because they symbolize grace, self-reliance, and calm perseverance.
They are a reminder to trust your own rhythm rather than rushing or comparing yourself to others. When a heron appears, it’s often a nudge from the universe that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be... even if progress feels slow or uncertain.
We’re endlessly grateful for where this new chapter has taken us: surrounded by sunshine, the most beautiful white-sand beaches I’ve ever seen, AMAZING seafood… and, of course, the game of hockey ;)
Budget friendly furniture finds on Wayfair, Walmart and Amazon below:
Dining Room
Averni Extendable Dining Table with Storage Box for 6-8Seat: $209.99
Lilian 18.1'' H Metal Stacking Side Chair (Set of 4) (we bought 2 sets): $134.99
8x10 Area Rugs for Living Room, Machine Washable Non Slip: $79.99
Victrola Empire 6-in-1 Wood Record Player: $289.99
AMHANCIBLE Record Player Stand with Charging Station : $47.99
WENTMENT Bar Stools Set of 4 Counter Height Metal Barstools: $134.68
Hiccapop OmniBoost Travel Booster Seat with Tray for Baby: $34.99
Living Room
140'' W 6-Piece U-Shaped Tufed Boucle Modular Sectionals: $1,140.00
Aneitra Solid Wood Coffee Table: $122.99
8x10 Area Rugs for Living Room, Machine Washable Non Slip: $79.99
Kehaulani 65" Media Console TV Stands with Electric Fireplace: $344.99
Better Homes & Gardens Canton End Table with USB, Tobacco Oak Finish
Master Bedroom
Washable Rugs 6x9 Area Rugs for Living Room: $79.99
22.75" Table Lamps set of 2 for Bedroom: $35.99
King Size Mattress, 12 Inch Hybrid: $239.99
King Size Bed Frame Velvet Upholstered Headboard: $259.99
Luxury Down Feather Comforter Insert: $84.99
Utopia Bedding Duvet Cover: $24.99
Beckham Hotel Collection Bed Pillows King Size Set of 2: $79.87
Pottery Barn 1000-Thread-Count Sateen Sheet Set: $339
Mainstays Cane Side Table, Spring Pine: $77.62
Todder Room
Novilla Queen Size Bed Frame: $139.99
Queen Mattress, 12 Inch: $174.99
HOMEAL 59in Foldable Toddler Bed Rails: $59.99
Gray Area Rug 6x9 Machine Washable: $75.99
Furologee White Nightstands Set of 2: $39.99
Utopia Bedding Bed Pillows set of 4: $39.89
Utopia Bedding Deep Pocket Queen Sheet Set: $20.99
Utopia Bedding Duvet insert: $23.49
Utopia Bedding Duvet Cover:$16.62
Guest Room
Queen Bed Frame-Classic Metal Platform: $75.99
Queen Mattress,12 Inch: $199.99
Table Lamps for Living Room Set of 2: $39.98
Furologee White Nightstands Set of 2: $39.99
Ralph Lauren Queen Size Dunham Sateen 4 Piece Sheet: $91.55
Luxury Down Feather Duvet Insert: $111.99
Utopia Bedding Bed Pillows set of 4: $39.89
Utopia Bedding Queen Pillow Cases - 4 Pack: $7.21
Utopia Bedding Duvet Cover:$16.62
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