If you have been reading here for a while, you probably already know I am that dog mom — the one who is completely obsessed with her pups. Winston, our German Shepherd/Chow mix, and Gizmo, our German Shepherd/Golden Retriever mix, also known as The Grant Boys, both joined our family through the SPCA of Wake…
23 Best Raleigh Restaurants Open on Mondays (2026 Guide)
Y’all, one of the questions I get asked the most is what Raleigh restaurants open on Mondays for dinner service. It is a great question, because Monday is the night where restaurants choose to close up shop and take a breather. So if you have ever stood in your kitchen at 6pm on a Monday…
10 Backyard Picnic Essentials for 2026 (Updated Favorites We Still Swear By)
I first wrote this article back in 2020, when a backyard picnic was less “cute idea” and more “the only way David and I were seeing another human beings.” Fast forward a few years, and what started as a quarantine safeguard has turned into one of our favorite regular traditions — right up there with…
12 Romantic Inns in Western NC for a Cozy Fall Getaway (2026 Update)
There is nothing quite like fall in the North Carolina mountains. The air turns crisp, the leaves along the Blue Ridge Parkway are gorgeous shades of gold and crimson, and every cozy inn porch suddenly feels like it is exactly where you are supposed to be. If you are searching for romantic inns in Western…
Banner Elk NC Guide 2026: Things to Do, Where to Eat and Stay
Banner Elk is the most recent stop on my North Carolina 100 County Tour, and this one I tackled solo. What I found was a High Country town that is easy to fall for — walkable, welcoming, and full of people who made a solo traveler feel like a VIP. Here is my Banner Elk…
