Hi! We’re the Baxleys
A family of four, we completely uprooted our lives in Brooklyn, New York, and decided to move to Portugal in order to improve our quality of life.
![Dustin & Allison Baxley](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6012f28748b486140ba9ed8b/4419e42f-ef68-4560-8588-e7b2c617f0b8/renovatinglife_com_183943095_307428864089332_3200350929289212567_n.jpg)
![Jax Baxley](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6012f28748b486140ba9ed8b/1620766188822-JEB4XNCM5OCCPRO8D7VR/renovatinglife_com_183461192_830412694247874_4959169153584530889_n.jpg)
![Mia Baxley](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6012f28748b486140ba9ed8b/a67cf289-4a4c-4c65-9f4c-dcd68fb308d0/renovatinglife_com_185045988_821928408722338_3346164566340494610_n.jpg)
Meet the Fam
Before kids, Dustin and I had the privilege of traveling internationally many times, living abroad in three different countries either for school or work, taking an epic pre-baby last hurrah trek that lasted seven weeks and took us to Hawaii, Singapore, and all over Southeast Asia. Between the two of us, we’ve traveled to more than 25 countries.
One of our favorite places to visit time and time again is London, but because there are so many places on our bucket list, we rarely go to the same destination twice. Before Jax was born, Mia visited seven different countries over the course of three European getaways. But due to the pandemic, Jax had yet to step foot outside the U.S. before our move to Portugal.
That all changed when we chose a life in Portugal, and we’ve been doing our best to expose these kids to a new international way of life.
Keep reading to get to know us a little better.
Allison
AKA Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Freelance Creator & Portugal Blogger//Full-Time Wife & Mom
Enjoys:
anything and everything related to this amazing Portugal blog
eating everything from Tex-Mex to tuna melts
sleeping past 6am which rarely happens these days
reading historical fiction, spy novels, and everything in between
watching trash TV, foreign movies, and FRIENDS
traveling the world one country at a time
online shopping using a memorized credit card number
drinking coffee until wine o’clock
listening to the same album on repeat until the next obsession hits
playing volleyball like I’m still 21 and paying for it for a week
Dustin
AKA Dad, Daddy, Dada, Favorite
Film & Television Production Accountant//Husband & Dad Extraordinaire
Enjoys:
rooting on the Houston Astros, the Texas Tech basketball team, and Patrick Mahomes
wearing the same 5 shirts over and over despite a closet full of clothes
listening to the band TOOL and only TOOL forever and ever amen
drinking all the margaritas, they have those in Portugal, right?
watching The West Wing start to finish again and again
calling out the names of all the shops/stores/restaurants in a new neighborhood
Mia Magoo
AKA Sissy, Sis, Sister
Professional Sassafrass//Aspiring Mermaid Swim Teacher
Enjoys:
loving on her Bubba until he strikes back
swimming, gymnastics, and all things creativity
Facetime playdates with friends on a rainy day
chicken nuggets, cheese, and CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!
watching Youtube videos on her iPad
living room dance parties
calling for hugs at 2am
Hurricane Jax
AKA Bubba, Bubs, Boo Boo, Jaxy
Professional Destroyer//Aspiring Heartbreaker
Enjoys:
turning a room upside down and inside out in mere seconds
clowning around just to get a giggle from mom or dad
climbing and jumping on and off anything and everything
doing things all by himself, with no help, ever, never, don’t even try
playing with his sissy when he feels like it, but not when he doesn’t, don’t get it confused
telling you when he toots
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“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.”
— Oprah Winfrey
Move to Portugal
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