Hey there! Let me tell you something real - I haven't gotten a pedicure in ages because I never found a nail salon that did a good job. Either they rushed through it or didn't properly clean my toes and feet. But recently, something changed my mind. My husband started getting pedicures due to a foot injury, and it got me curious. You see, Terrance is at an age where his bones can shift at any time, and one day, it happened to the bottom of his foot. We tried everything - adjusting his sneakers, visiting a podiatrist - but we decided to level it up and get a pedicure. Not just any pedicure ..read more

I have been a client of BlueWater Spa for a few years now, and I have to say, their services have truly transformed my beauty routine. My go-to treatments have always been Hydrafacials and laser hair removal, but during one of my visits, the team introduced me to something new: Emsculpt NEO. At first, I was a bit hesitant, but after my complimentary consultation, I decided to give it a try. And let me tell you, it has been amazing! One of the things that sets Emsculpt NEO apart is its use of HIFEM (High Intensity Focused Electro-Magnetic) technology. This technology stimulates your muscles w ..read more

Moving to Raleigh over 8 years ago was probably one of the biggest things I have ever done and while it was the best decision for myself and Miles, I was so nervous. As he got older, I struggled with finding things for him to do. I would google: “things to do for small kids near me” and while this was helpful, it would have been nice to have an app that was specifically dedicated to children and what their interests were. I recently found out about a new app that launched in the Triangle called Field Day. Field Day is a place to help individuals find parent-approved activities in our community ..read more

California has always been the place that I have been trying to get back to. While I have visited LA before, I always thought that I would go back there before any other city. When we got the news that our nephew was getting married I squealed because that meant a new adventure and y'all know I love a good adventure. A couple of months before the wedding was announced I met a new friend named Carly who was from there. She played a huge part in the planning of the trip (coffee shops, food, and things to see). I am a firm believer that the locals are the best people to ask about recommendations ..read more

Can you believe that I was an actual gamer as a kid? Yeap! My brother and I always had a game system and my favorite was the Nintendo 64. I loved playing Mario and when I wasn't participating in kid-friendly games my brother and I were "holding it down" on Grand Theft Auto and YES! we passed all of the missions. Here is a funny little side note: our mom never purchased a memory card for us so we kept our game on all day and night so that we would not jeopardize our spot-on video games which means we had to beat the entire game. We have a few victories under our belt and man! were those the goo ..read more

Terrance and I just walked through one of the busiest seasons of our lives. While it was filled with so many people and wonderful memories – there were so many days that I felt completely lonely. Not because I didn’t have friends, family, or support but because I wasn’t connected to anyone that was in the same season. The holidays are here, and I can imagine what things are like for my friends who are lonely or may not have any family close. Here are 5 ways to prioritize lonely friends and family this holiday season: 1. Treat them to dinner at your house or out and about 2. Be intentional abou ..read more

As we walk out of Sexual Abuse Awareness Month (April) and into Mental Health Awareness Month (May) I thought it would be fitting to share a little more in-depth ways I am walking through my healing process. If you watched my stories on Instagram or follow my blog, then you know last year in April of 2020 I took a leap of bravery and decided to share my story of sexual abuse. While it was freeing and very liberating it also opened old wounds and lots of conversations were had. I had to revisit my thoughts and feelings around the abuse. I contemplated whether I was healing or just saying that b ..read more

Miles recently said to me “I don’t do well with mental silence”. In that moment I struggled to understand what he meant but, in a world, where we are encouraged to always be on, I totally understood where he was coming from. In the morning, we listen to music to get our day started. At night before bed, he listens to his favorite stories like Peter Pan or Willy Wonka. On the weekends, he plays the game pretty much all day. In the car, we are either listening to music or a podcast. So, after Miles said that to me, I became intentional about having quiet time in the morning and during the day. B ..read more

It was August of 2018, and we were so excited about Miles entering kindergarten. It was Miles’ first time attending school full time. Prior to this, he attended a Christian daycare for a half day. His preschool was predominantly white and in a part of Raleigh that was highly sought out for families. Miles’ elementary school was right up the road from his preschool, it was a public school that specialized in World Languages and the fact that it was close to our home was a plus. Now, back to the first day. It was August 2018, and we were overly excited about Miles entering kindergarten. Terrance ..read more

Daniela's family ancestry comprises independent and resilient women who made their way in a world that didn't support women, particularly in the business world. Despite the challenges, Daniela's grandmother managed to establish herself as a middleman in household goods, while her mother, who was the first in her family to earn a college degree, became a successful entrepreneur. These women have been a source of inspiration for Daniela, and their success stories continue to motivate her to this day. ,,Moon Angel Sweets, Daniela's business, aims to promote Brazilian culture through their signat ..read more