Pineapple Upside-Down Cake: A Blast From the Past Worth Every Bite Some recipes do more than satisfy your sweet tooth. They take you straight back to your childhood kitchen. That is exactly what happened when I decided to make a Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. The moment it came out of the oven I was transported…
Book Review-Phantasma by Kaylie Smith: A Review and How I Brought It Into My World
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith: A Review and How I Brought It Into My World Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars I picked up Phantasma by Kaylie Smith with high hopes. It had all the ingredients I love: an atmospheric setting in New Orleans, a young woman with inherited necromancy magic, a mysterious haunted mansion, and…
Food-Five of the Best Apples for Baking This Fall
Five of the Best Apples for Baking This Fall Fall is officially here, and that means one thing in my kitchen: it is apple season. I will be honest with you. If I walked into a grocery store and needed apples for a recipe, my instinct would be to pick the prettiest ones and…
Monthly Motivation-A Turn on the Trail
I recently watched the movie The Highwaymen, a gripping story about two lawmen tracking down Bonnie and Clyde. One line really caught my attention—it mentioned “one turn on the trail.” To me, this powerful phrase means that a single decision or change in direction can completely alter the course of our lives. The turns and decisions…
Eating My Way from A to Z in the Triangle: A is for Arby’s
My Restaurant Adventure Series: The Letter A, Fast Food Edition Arby’s If you read my first Restaurant Adventure post, you know I am working my way through local restaurants alphabetically, visiting two to four spots for each letter. Abbey Road Tavern & Grill kicked off the letter A in style, but no alphabetical restaurant adventure…
Tell Your Story Through Journaling Your Best Friend – The One Who Knew All Your Secrets
Tell Your Story Through Journaling Your Best Friend – The One Who Knew All Your Secrets A journal series for women who are ready to tell their story. There is a particular kind of friendship that only happens once. The kind where you are completely yourself. Where the laughter comes easy, the secrets are safe,…
Restaurant Review-A Birthday Dinner Worth Writing About: Nomad’s, Hillsborough NC
Some restaurants are just a meal. And then there are the ones that become a memory. Nomad in Hillsborough, NC is the second kind. I took my daughter out for her birthday dinner and from the moment we walked in I knew we had chosen the right place. The Atmosphere-Nomad is housed in a refurbished…
Need Stress Relief? Try Spending Time Near the Water
Need Stress Relief? Try Spending Time Near the Water Let’s continue on with our series on stress relief and self-care. Today, let’s explore one of nature’s most powerful stress relievers — something that has been right in front of us all along. Whether it’s the ocean, a lake, or a gently flowing river, being near…
Travel-A Sweet Surprise Stop: The Bush’s Baked Beans Museum in Dandridge, Tennessee
A Sweet Surprise Stop: The Bush’s Baked Beans Museum in Dandridge, Tennessee Some of my earliest and happiest food memories involve a can of Bush’s Baked Beans. As a kid, baked beans with hot dogs was a regular weeknight dinner in our house, simple, satisfying, and always delicious. As a teenager, my go-to snack was…
Travel-When Bears Come to Visit: Our Wild Gatlinburg Experience
When Bears Come to Visit: Our Wild Gatlinburg Experience We had heard the stories. “You might see a bear or two.” What we did not expect was to have our own little bear neighborhood right outside our rental home in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. What followed was one of the most unforgettable family vacations we have ever…