Thanks to the continuous support of my family, I had the amazing opportunity to be a part of this year’s Knightdale Mayor’s Academy.  Knightdale, NC, is home to approximately 20,800 people, with a projected population growth of over 36,000 residents by 2035.  With this rapid growth, the Town has created an engaging program that allows seasoned and new residents to come together to learn more about Knightdale and its operations.   On This Page: General Governance and Local Government Administration Community Relations Public Works Development Services Fire Knightdale Mayor ..read more

Hey there, everyone!   I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Now, I don’t know what possessed us to decide to fit everything we could in this past week, but my family and I went on a lot of adventures during the holiday! One of my favorite adventures that just my husband and I got to enjoy this week was exploring Flower Hill Nature Preserve. But we got to bring the kids to so many other awesome places! We visited Pullen Park, Sandy Pines Nature Preserve in Wendell, the North Carolina Zoo (excellent!), the Marbles Museum, and the brand-new Downtown Cary Park (very ..read more

A few weeks ago, I took a morning drive to downtown Zebulon, NC. A while back, when I had taken a painting class in Wendell with local artist Amy Richards, I had asked her if there were any hidden jewels in Eastern Wake that she thought should be highlighted.  She gave me some wonderful ideas, but the one that piqued my interest the most was the Mona Pants Mintage shop. So, I recently spent the morning exploring a shop where serious animal rescue efforts meet eclectic vintage, and I am so excited to share this fantastic store with you! On This Page: The Mona Pants Foundation A New Locati ..read more

Alright, everyone,  Who is ready to talk date nights in Raleigh, NC? Are you like me and have thought about trying a date night box but don’t want to be stuck just playing some card game at your kitchen table? On This Page: The Challenge of Planning Date Nights for Busy People Supporting Local: Trailblazing Love as a North Carolina-based Business Introducing Trailblazing Love: A Meaningful Solution for Busy Couples Choosing the Perfect Date Night Box Unboxing the Date Night Magic Dive Deeper: The Indulgence Date Night Box Experience The Gift that Keeps Giving: Reusability of Date Night B ..read more

Even though my hydrangeas still have blooms, and I swear I had to swat a mosquito away the other day, the holidays are fast approaching.  We’ve baked pumpkin bread, caught candy at the Wendell Harvest Festival parade, slid down inflatables at Fall on First in Knightdale, gone for plenty of fall nature walks, and Boo’ed a neighbor.  I’ve even already got a few Christmas gifts tucked away in my secret hiding spot.  But even though we are nearing the end of October, there are still so many more events on the horizon!  So, take a look below for my curated list of 2023 Holiday e ..read more

Hey there, everyone! If you’ve been following me along on my Burn Boot Camp journey, thanks for checking back in one more time! And if you’re new, I have been wondering for a while now, “Is Burn Boot Camp Worth It?” So, I decided to try it out for 30 days.  You can read all about my experience with my first week here and then weeks two and three here.  But without further ado, here is my detailed progress for week four and my final results! On This Page: Saturday, Burn Boot Camp Day 22 – Feeling Like an Energizer Bunny Sunday, Burn Boot Camp Day 23 –  An Emotional Kind of Day M ..read more

After recovering from my first week at Burn Boot Camp, I realized that I didn’t spend much time discussing the Burn Boot Camp protocol.  Now, I’ll be honest, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t break down all of the workouts that are included in each session.  But if you want an idea for what it’s like to go to Burn multiple days out of the week, or how I have been getting on in weeks two and three, then keep reading below! * Affiliate links are used in this article to support the creation of high-quality content at no additional cost to you. For more information, please read our disclos ..read more

As mentioned in my previous post about finding ways to live healthier in Eastern Wake, I have recently decided to focus more on my health and well-being. Once it was obvious to me that I would need additional motivation to start working out again, I asked my neighbors, preschool mom friends, and Facebook followers what gyms or workouts people loved the most.  One of the most consistent responses that I kept hearing was, “You HAVE to try Burn Boot Camp in Knightdale.” On This Page: Committing to Trying Burn Boot Camp: Getting Over My Hesitancy My Dietary Goals Over the Next 30 Days Measur ..read more

Do you ever have those times in your life when you know you’ve been slowly putting on weight or maybe losing some strength and endurance, but you just kind of shove that feeling down?  Right?  It’s easier to tell yourself, “Eh, I’ll weigh myself tomorrow,” or, “My life is so busy right now, I don’t have time to deal with this and get into the mess of dieting and exercise.”  But then, one day, you finally do step on the scale, and all of your fears you subconsciously know are happening are confirmed. You’ve gained weight.  A LOT.  You haven’t been living a healthier lif ..read more

Table of Contents The New Location: Downtown Raleigh’s Parkside Now in Wendell Falls Dining Experience at Wendell Falls Parkside: Early Evening Wendell Falls Parkside Atmosphere and Decor: Modern Minimalist Cocktails and Beverages: The Peach Mason Wendell Falls Parkside Menu Selections: Catering to Different Preferences Dining Experience: Conversation Amidst the Bustle Delicious Entrees: Steakhouse Salad and the Fried Buffalo Chicken Sandwich Payment Process Wendell Falls Parkside Family-Friendly Features Treelight Square: A Growing Hub of Activity Tired and busy but happy!  That is th ..read more