The world is a just a little bit crazy right about now. I’m catching up on my reading in between homeschooling supervision, meal planning and 20 second hand washing. I came across this poem by Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and wanted to share this “Wednesday Wisdom” with all of you. We could all use some calm during these Coronavirus quarantine days. I think we can probably also use the down time for reflection; on our lives, on our friendships and relationships and to remind ourselves how much we are deeply connected as a community. I like to believe that some good thin ..read more

We don’t get a lot of snow days here in North Carolina. Certainly not as many as we used to get during long and cold New York winters. I guess it’s the reason I appreciate the small amounts of snow that paralyze our streets in the South and the resulting snow days so much more. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make purchases through these links (at no additional cost to you), I receive some spare change that indulges my chai latte cravings and more importantly, allows me to continue to provide you with great content that I hope will interest and inspire you ..read more

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Chocolate, flowers, special dinners or gifts are usually the norm to honor this day celebrating romantic love. I thought I’d honor Valentine’s Day differently this year by trying to find ways to improve communication with my husband and partner. I’m obviously no expert (although I’ve actually played one on TV!) so I reached out to my friend, April Smith, a local couple’s counselor at Relationship Restoration in Raleigh. We met for a cup of coffee to chat about life, marriage and family. As middle aged women (ugh, that term, tho’), we bonded ove ..read more

Are you wondering what to do with all of those Amazon gift cards you got from Santa this year? Well, I’ve got ya covered. I went on a quest to find products that will keep me (and you) motivated while we strive to achieve our fitness goals in 2020 and put our Amazon gift cards to good use! Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make purchases through these links (at no additional cost to you), I receive some spare change that indulges my chai latte cravings and more importantly, allows me to continue to provide you with great content that I hope will interest and insp ..read more

The lunch menu at kō•än Public Table, conceived by award-winning and well-traveled, Chef Drew Smith and his team, is a foodie’s delight. I was thrilled to be invited to taste their newly launched lunch menu. How exciting for this foodie to experience Chef Drew’s (formerly of bu•ku and so•ka) cuisine. The kō•än menu is inspired by Smith’s travels through Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and his time in Vietnam. The wait has been long, but kō•än Public Table surpassed any of my expectations. I’m happy to say Cary, NC once again houses a fine dining restaurant that surprises and delights ..read more

It’s time for my 2019 year-end review! The end of 2019 and the start of a new decade is the perfect time to reflect on what the past year has brought, the experiences I’ve had, the things I’ve loved and the new discoveries I’ve made. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make purchases through these links (at no additional cost to you), I receive some spare change that indulges my chai latte cravings and more importantly, allows me to continue to provide you with great content that I hope will interest and inspire you. Let’s get started! Year in Review: Travel T ..read more

The 5th annual N.C. Chinese Lantern Festival returns to Cary on November 22, 2019 and runs for seven weeks thru January 12, 2020. The festival has become a holiday tradition in Cary, NC as the Booth Amphitheatre transforms into a spectacular setting of holiday lights, lanterns, and cultural performances. This year’s Festival will. include all-new lanterns, each one comprised of hundreds of parts, and thousands of LED lights. The 5th annual Chinese Lantern Festival also returns with some surprises including an all-new giant lantern on Symphony Lake to replace the beloved dragon. The kids ..read more

Chef-Owner Teddy Diggs of Coronato, the first Roman style pizzeria in North Carolina, is hosting a “Truffled Pizza Feast” on Sunday, December 8th. If you’re not familiar with this local talented Chef, Diggs background is impressive. Before arriving to the Triangle, Diggs worked in the top kitchens of Washington, DC, and ran the dining programs at two of the top hotels on Martha’s Vineyard. His experience there gave him the opportunity to cook for many celebrities and President Obama. Diggs moved to Chapel Hill with his wife and two daughters in 2014. After 5 years as Executive Chef and ..read more

The NCMA opened their latest exhibit, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection, with presenting sponsor Bank of America. It’s an exhibit that I was so excited and honored to preview having developed a love for their work and romance in my early 20’s. Few artists have captured the public’s imagination with the force of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and her husband, the Mexican painter and muralist Diego Rivera. The myths that surrounded them arose not only from their significant bodies of work, but also from their friendships (and conflic ..read more

On Tuesday, November 12th, 2019, Whiskey Kitchen in Raleigh will host Supper Club No. 8 from 7pm to 10pm. Geared towards the adventurous and curious diner, the 8th edition of Supper Club will feature single malts of whiskey from off the beaten path, paired with the wild game most common in those less-traveled areas.  In an effort to expose mysterious far off places with whiskey, the Supper Club will provide 5 courses of game and the “most well traveled whiskey menu imaginable.” What is Supper Club? Supper Club at Whiskey Kitchen is an opportunity for the culinary and bar team to be c ..read more