When I started to craft this post, all the common platitudes ran through my mind;
“I can’t believe how much time has passed”
“Time is a thief”
“Time flies when you’re having fun”
I’ve found myself seeking an expression the captures something else entirely. That profound sense of gratitude for the ability and gift to watch your life evolve. For witnessing growth through thousands of ordinary moments. A reflection of the culmination this far and it’s exactly that which I wanted to reflect on.
For nearly two decades, Freddie and I have been partners in every sense of the word. Partners in life, in creativity, and in building a life together one chapter at a time. This past week has marked our 11th wedding anniversary, and instead of sharing our wedding photos once again, I found myself reaching for something different. I wanted to go back to the beginning.
It felt like the right moment to pause, say hello, and share a little more about the story that shaped us. The photographs, the memories, and the quiet evolution of our life together. Some of you have been here since those early days, which still amazes us. Thank you for growing alongside us. It’s a privilege to share this little corner of our world with you, and an even greater one to know you’ve welcomed it so warmly.
2009
…we were 22 and 25 (babies!) when we met out one night with friends in Los Angeles in 2009. We spotted each other in a crowded room, he approached me, we talked all night then exchanged numbers…
1982
Born September 1, a Virgo. Freddie grew up in New York in a large, close-knit Italian family where food, tradition, and community were woven into everyday life as the son of a firefighter. I often say I fell in love with him when I met his family. My grandparents were both New Yorkers, and there was something about my in-laws that automatically felt familiar.
1986
Born January 29, an Aquarius. I grew up as the middle of three children, moving often throughout my childhood. When I was ten, my myom bought a home tucked into the olive groves of Tuscany. Those summers changed me. They shaped my love of Italy, food, and the slower pace of countryside life that continues to inspire everything we create today.
2010
…After months of texting back and forth, we finally met for a dinner and movie date. I was working as a Fashion Publicist and he was partner in a Film Production company. We moved in and got a dog together just four months in…
2010 – 2014
…our 20s together were wonderfully chaotic. There were spontaneous weekends in Palm Springs, lots of late nights spent celebrating Freddie’s latest films, and for me, 60+ hour work weeks juggling my job In PR, assistant styling, and blogging on the side, we were always moving, always working towards something bigger together and having the time of our lives doing it all….
2014
…this was the year that everything changed. After five years together, we left our jobs behind, packed a suitcase and a camera, and flew to Paris. We spent two weeks tucked away in a tiny apartment in Le Marais imagining what a different kind of life might look like.
It was in Paris, on that trip, I said yes…
…the year leading up to our wedding felt like life was gathering momentum. I became a contributor to Martha Stewart Weddings, documenting our wedding planning from beginning to end, a storytelling project I’d dreamed about for years. Then my editor asked if they could send a team to France to cover our wedding.
That December, we found ourselves on the cover…
2015 – 2018
…from that moment on, we built a life around creating together. Freddie behind the camera, me behind the story. Fashion weeks, film festivals, faraway places, and countless work trips became the backdrop to our early 30s. We always stayed a little longer, chasing the best meals and the hidden corners of every city after documenting every step of the way. It’s what inspired us to take the leap and move to New York…
2019
…life was exciting, full of travel, creativity, and opportunities we had once only dreamed about. But we’d always imagined becoming parents someday. In August 2019, we found out we were expecting our first daughter. Parenthood revealed a kind of fulfillment we hadn’t known before, one that couldn’t be found in another passport stamp, another campaign, or another career milestone. It gave us a deeper sense of purpose and quietly began reshaping the life, family and career we wanted to build together…
2020
…like so many, what was meant to be one of the happiest seasons of our lives was suddenly filled with uncertainty. Yet amid it all came our brightest light, Lucy. For months, it was just the three of us in our little brownstone in Jersey City. Freddie cooked every meal, and around the table we’d reminisce about the unforgettable dishes we’d discovered on our travels, slowly learning that some of life’s most meaningful moments weren’t found abroad, but created at home. It was in these moments that the idea for Cucina Cipoletti was born.
It was a culmination of everything we loved…
2020 – 2021
…as the world reopened, we quietly got to work behind the scenes, finding producers, testing recipes, refining products, and building what would become Cucina Cipoletti. I turned the camera on Freddie while he cooked. That creative role reversal felt refreshing, and even though it was a departure from the fashion content we’d always shared, you all embraced it from the very beginning. There were plenty of moments filled with doubt, but we’ve always believed in one another. That belief gave us the courage to keep creating…
2023
…2023 was a year of growing in every sense.
Out of an abundance of love, we welcomed Mia into our family. At the same time, we began searching for a home, not just any home, but one that would challenge us creatively and become our next project together.
We weren’t simply looking for a place to live. We were searching for a space we could reimagine, restore, and slowly make our own…
2024
…in June, we closed on our home. A place to restore, raise our family, create, and finally feel settled. After nearly fifteen years of always moving, chasing, and building, it was time to put down roots. Somewhere between restoring this old home and building Cucina Cipoletti, we realized we’d been building the same thing all along. For years, we chased inspiration around the world. In the end, we found it in the life we built together…
2025
…And the rest, well… if you’ve read this far, you probably already know.
Somehow, building a life together has also meant sharing it with each of you, and for that, we are endlessly grateful. We truly love what we do, what we create, and the community that has grown alongside us.
Our hope is that through Cucina Cipoletti, and everything still to come, we’ll have the opportunity to gather with many of you around a table one day. Until then, these two crazy kids with a big dream thank you for being part of our story.
