Please Donate To Your Local Food Bank.

Of course you've seen the stories.

Local shopping cart filled to the top with toilet paper! Story at 11:00!

Chaos ensues at *fill in the blank store name* - hand sanitizer aisle completely EMPTY!

But what about the food?

What about all the groceries you've bought for you and your family, in case - in case you end up stuck at home like you're in a few inches of ice in North Carolina!

What about the food?

More importantly, what about the people who can't afford to stock up the way that you can?

Can you pick up a few extra boxes of pasta, bags of rice or beans, cans of soup or vegetables, and donate them to your local food bank?

Because food insecurity is a real thing.

And as district after district close schools across the states, we need to know that the children are being fed. And that their families are being fed, as well.

There are many items that could benefit a family or individual in need.

Consider the seniors in your area, those with new babies, and those unable to stock up on all of the paper products like you did.

This graphic below is from the Food Bank of Central and Eastern Carolina, which is my local food bank. I have been volunteering with them for several years as a social media ambassador, and am proud of the work that they do supporting those in need in our community. Take a look at these suggestions - grab a few - and then find a food bank near you.

And if even thinking about heading to the store is just too much? Or if getting to the food bank itself seems impossible? Consider making an online donation.  Whether you do so to Feeding America, the organization which supports food banks across the country, or to your local food bank, the money you contribute will help feed those in need. And there are so so many people who could use your help.

March is National Nutrition Month. What better time to help ensure that children, adults, families everywhere are supported in their journey towards healthy eating?

Please consider sharing and showing your support today.

Your community needs you.

Thanks, y'all.

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so•ca cocina latina

This was my drink. It was called Little Mendoza.
It was a pretty little cocktail with a way not little punch. 

This week was one of the longest weeks in creation.

Seriously.

So. Very. Long.

But fortunately for me, I had a night out with a friend at the delicious so•ca restaurant in Raleigh.

The food at so•ca was delicious. And the atmosphere was fantastic.

It was a weeknight, so it wasn't horribly crowded. And although the temperatures were mellowing out, we decided it would be more comfortable to eat inside.

Actually, I deferred to the host and he suggested inside. We agreed. Comfort over outdoor seating. North Carolina seems to have glossed over spring and it has to be much later in the evening to enjoy an outdoor meal. This is unfortunate, as I love the cooler temps.

Even last night on my way home from dinner (different meal) I opened the window in the Uber and enjoyed the breeze, then looked at the temperature and it was still 80 degrees. What on earth?

But back to so•ca.

We decided to start with a small plate, choosing the Colombian Pan de Yuca.

This picture doesn't do it justice. It was these buttery garlicky cheesy bread bursts with pickled onions. And I probably could have eaten several more servings of it - maybe they'll add an unlimited version to the menu just for me? (A girl can dream.)

I think that the next time I go I'll be ordering several little plates so I can leave room for dessert. Because the dessert options and beverages looked amazing, but I was too full to eat anything else just then.

I ordered the Pollo a la Brasa for dinner. It was beautiful. And delicious. Which matters more, certainly, but still. Look at how pretty it was plated.

The chicken was amazing. So well-cooked. And the avocado and tomatillos? Yum. I will let you know that the green stuff? Salsa verde. A little bit of an unexpected kick for me - the spice wimp - so if you order it and can't do spicy? Be warned. But get it anyway. I'm sure they'll help accommodate your taste needs.

so•ca offers a variety of options for your meal, and I've already decided that I really want to get back there for brunch sometime, because, omg, yum.

Have a look at these huevos rancheros from their Instagram feed? I mean, seriously.

Hello, so•ca brunch, here I come.

View this post on Instagram

Saturday! We are HERE for these huevos rancheros! #stafffavorite #saturdaybrunch

A post shared by so•ca raleigh (@socaraleigh) on May 18, 2019 at 9:31am PDT

So if you're looking for somewhere new to try and can't decide where to go? I highly recommend so•ca. I think you'll find whatever you're looking for and more. And I hope you enjoy it!

* This is not a sponsored post. I went to dinner at so•ca and thought I'd share some info about it with you. I had a wonderful experience and the staff is great, so why not spread the word, right? I hope you decide to go and do let me know how your meal goes. * 

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The Dunhill Hotel and The Asbury

I had the recent pleasure of heading to Charlotte for a weekend, and was given the opportunity to stay at The Dunhill Hotel and eat dinner at The Asbury, the incredible modern southern restaurant on site.

The hotel accommodations were available to us at a discounted rate, and our dinner was comped, with us adding just a few essentials. Like dessert. The Asbury's pastry chef is very well-known, and you'd be a fool to pass up any of her creations.

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Morgan Street Food Hall - Raleigh, NC

I have been to Morgan Street Food Hall in Raleigh more than a handful of times.

It has quickly become one of my favorite places to eat.

Whether you're in the mood for empanadas, tacos, pizza, hummus, salad or lobster (yes, you're reading this correctly, I did say lobster), the food hall has you covered!

After attending a press event there and then going back repeatedly with my friend Kate of Life of a Ginger, she and I recently went back to the Food Hall to attended a hosted brunch event with our fellow Triangle bloggers and influencers.

But we were far from the star of the show at this event, y'all.

The vendors and businesses there were incredible. We had so many options to choose from, I likely won't get to spotlight them all, but I would love to introduce you to a few.

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The Cultured Seafood Festival in New Bern, NC

*Posted on behalf of the Cultured Seafood Festival in New Bern, NC. I was not compensated for this post, but was offered a ticket to the event in exchange for sharing.*

On the evening of Friday, March 9, 2018, the North Carolina Aquaculture Development Conference (NCADC) is closing out their conference with the Cultured Seafood Festival in New Bern, North Carolina.

The event is a part of the NCADC's effort to educate the public about aquaculture species.

The Cultured Seafood Festival offers a fun, family-friendly environment with an abundance of delicious food crafted by Chef James “Smoke” Boyd.

Boyd is one of New Bern’s top chefs and owner of The Flame Catering and Banquet Centre. 

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Maverick's Smokehouse and Taproom in Durham, NC

Last week I had an opportunity to enjoy dinner hosted by Maverick's Smokehouse and Taproom in Durham.

It. Was. Amazing.

I went with my friend Kate from Life of a Ginger, and we ordered the BBQ nachos with pulled chicken (as seen in the photo above^). Oh my sweet goodness - they were amazing. I think I ate too much of them as I wouldn't let our waitress take the plate away, even when she brought us our completely full trays of food for the main meal.

Now, I ordered the smoked southern brined fried chicken.

I've never tasted fried chicken like this before. Ever.

The skin was really delicious, but I'll be honest, I picked through a lot of it to get to that smoky chicken. It was so strange - you could tell how delicious it was going to be - and yet, still find yourself surprised at how good it actually was.

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5 Products You Need in Your Holiday Kitchen

holiday food photo from pixabay

I know - Thanksgiving is only days away - I'm a little bit late with my suggestions.

But still.

You can order ingredients and home goods online, and, just as important - or maybe more so? Your favorite or coveted kitchen essentials. And you don't have to brave the stores as the holiday gets closer.

And, if you need to ignore me because I'm stressing you out? Save this post and consider it for your Christmas or Chanukah meal prep. Because there's always another holiday right around the corner!

The links provided in this piece are affiliate links - when you shop through them you'll help support my website and me - so I thank you in advance.

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What You Need For Your Whole30

If you have been reading my blog for a while you are likely familiar with the fact that I have completed several rounds of Whole30. And while I've tried to find my way back to it a few times in 2017, I'll admit that emotional upheaval has kept me from giving up my carbs and left me still focusing on labels and the like when it comes to hidden ingredients, but also left me wishing sometimes that I'd go back to eating the things that filled me up in the right ways.

So. I have decided to share a few ideas with you all - and I've decided to start a Whole30 today. I'm not sure what round this is for me, but I'll try to figure that out later on.

I'm starting another round in hopes that I'll continue to remind myself that when I follow certain eating habits it represents positive changes that give me and my body the boost I'm searching for. It's not restrictions or limitations, but a way to see exactly how my body does best.

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The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar

Earlier this week my fellow NCSocial friends and I were welcomed to The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar in North Hills (Raleigh, NC) for a multi-course meal of deliciousness. This post is a thank you for the glorious meal that they treated our group to. I was not compensated for this post. 

I believe in the past I've introduced you to the NCSocial Facebook group my friend Kate of Life of a Ginger and I run for North Carolina influencers. We welcome bloggers, social media influencers and entrepreneurs. Consider popping in and joining us if you fall in this category. We are currently open to anyone located in NC, but our events have mostly been coordinated in the Triangle area.

Anyway - back to the reason for this post! Kate coordinated with the team behind The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar in Raleigh and we had the most incredible evening out. A party of 15, we enjoyed all that The Cowfish had to offer. From appetizers to alcohol (we covered that part!) to dessert. No question, the food is incredible.

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Introducing Harvest Time Foods Gluten Free Products

* This post is brought to you by the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. All opinions are strictly my own. * 

Wishing you could enjoy a taste of home like you used to but finding that your dietary restrictions don't allow it?

I have some incredible news! Harvest Time Food has a gluten free line that you're going to devour, especially when it comes to those incredibly delicious Anne's dumplings. That's right - you can make yourself some chicken and dumplings and not worry about a thing.

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Raise A Glass To TOPO Organic Distillery

* This event was coordinated by the NCSocial Facebook group (run by me and Kate Kelly of Life of a Ginger) and TOPO Organic Distillery. The distillery tour was hosted, as was much of the meal. All attendees purchased their own dinner entrées. *

I live in Durham, so I'm not over in Chapel Hill very often. That said - I absolutely must remedy that. Because after my tour of the TOPO Distillery and dinner at Top of the Hill? I need to go back. As in, really, really, really need to go back. 

The drink was lovely. Quality liquor without a horrible aftertaste or a rubbing alcohol smell to it. 

The food? Incredible. I could live off of the appetizers, certainly, and the Moonshine Mule I got to drink? Yeah. Dangerous. Tasted like Sprite. So good. So so good. 

And my dinner was amazing. So, as I said, I need to go back. And I'm quite certain that you need to go there, too. 

Let me talk about the distillery first. 

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One Full Year

If you've been with me for a while you'll know that I'm the kind of person who writes fairly personal posts now and then.

I have shared my struggle through grief after losing my father unexpectedly several years ago, I've opened up about my anxiety - postpartum and every day, and I've spoken fairly freely about my struggle with my weight, including trying over and over again to establish some sort of fitness regimen that works for me.

I can't say I've made it to a point in my life where I've got it all figured out. I don't think any of us ever really DO reach that point. Not as far as I can tell, anyway. But I do want to fill you in on what's been happening with me over this last year of my life.

A year ago yesterday I started my first round of Whole30.

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Help Stop Summer Hunger

Summer is practically here. Schools are letting out all over the country and many children are excited to be headed off to summer camps or their grandparents' homes. 

Social media will be filled with pictures of splash pads and swim meets, parks and ice cream, and sweaty happy kids exhausted after a day of play.

But some kids won't have that experience. Some children won't be enjoying their summer days. 

These kids will be hungry.

They'll be struggling with hunger because their families don't have enough food. They're experiencing food insecurity.

Food insecurity is the state of being unable to consistently access nutritious and adequate amounts of food necessary for an active and healthy life. * 

I'd like you to take a moment to consider these kids and how you can help fill their bellies this summer. 

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Help Support the 24th Annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive!

It's that time again!

Saturday, May 14, 2016 is the 24th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive run by the National Association of Letter Carriers. Which means that the easiest way to donate food happens right at your door. Or mailbox. Or both - pretty much however you want to look at it, you get the opportunity to do good - and all it takes is leaving a bag of nonperishables for your letter carrier to pick up as a part of this incredible campaign.

I am a social media ambassador for my local food bank in North Carolina, and a part of my role is to spread awareness about the importance of food donations to our community food banks. There are so many people in need of assistance and YOUR HELP can be what ensures that they have food on the table for their families in the coming months.

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What I Ate On My Whole9

If we're Facebook friends or you follow me on social media you probably know by now that I am at the tail end of a Whole9. The Whole9 is a mini-Whole30. And the Whole30 is a way of eating that encourages you to eliminate several food groups and ingredients to help you determine which are the ones that are causing you inflammation and irritation - internally - and it's a really great way to reset your body. 

I've done two of them, my first round back in September of 2015. It was a pretty fantastic experience and I've become one of those people who sings praises of the program to anyone who asks. It was a fairly easy transition to life after Whole30, and I did a second round in January of this year. I started the new year off right. And then February came and I fell off that wagon. HARD. 

So - here I am - you find me on Day 9 of my Whole9, which is my little reset. I need to bring myself back to remembering that I don't really need cheese on my salad (which I broke on my visit to the Lowcountry, and people, it was so worth it!) and I can stick with my almond or coconut milk creamers in my coffee. 

I'm sharing some of my menu for this Whole9.

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Sugar Crush: How to Reduce Inflammation, Reverse Nerve Damage, and Reclaim Good Health

Thanks, TLC Book Tours, for the opportunity to read and review Sugar Crush.

Sugar Crush: How to Reduce Inflammation, Reverse Nerve Damage, and Reclaim Good Health (title link - here and throughout post are affiliate links) by Dr. Richard P. Jacoby and Raquel Baldelomar is an introduction to the impact that sugar has on our bodies. The impact is a huge one - and it's no coincidence that many eating programs these days require a drastic cut of sugar intake, or quite possibly the removal of any additional sugars at all. 

If you've been following me for a while you know I have done a few rounds of Whole30, and in doing so I have learned what removing unnatural sugars does for my body. And it's a lot of really good things. I've got a slight introduction to this concept because of my experience. 

Life after Whole30 isn't the easiest when it comes to omitting extra sugars from my diet, but Sugar Crush is an important reminder of why I need to stick with it and do so.

One section in the book that struck me was the How to Cope with Cravings information. As per Sugar Crush, "addicts crave what they're addicted to, so you should expect sugar cravings as you work on eliminating it from your life." (p. 136)

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Lowcountry Livin'

I had the opportunity of a lifetime this past weekend - to spend some time in the Lowcountry. My first true visit to South Carolina gave me an opportunity to connect with some incredible women.

Let me go back a bit ...

I won a chance to attend a girls' weekend getaway for me and a guest hosted by the lovely and gracious Kim Boykin. Kim is an author who you're going to want to introduce yourself to, and not just cause I say so. Her southern hospitality knew no bounds this past weekend, as she welcomed a group of us into her Isle of Palms home.

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My Whole30 Experience

If you've been following me this past month or so you already know that I'm a newly crowned Whole30 alumni. Woo hoo! *Throws glitter everywhere*

And so I figured I'd update you all a little bit about my Whole30 experience and give you some insight to what the past two months (just about) have been like for me. I hope you'll stick around and let me know your thoughts.

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And so ... We start again.

Today is Grandparents' Day.

And tonight, right now, at sundown, starts the highest of holy days on the Jewish calendar.

Two stark reminders of how life is so different without you.

It's been a while since I've written with moments and memories of you.

But it doesn't make a difference, because I think of you every day.

I see you in my own reflection.

My smile.

My eyes.

*You look like Daddy,* I hear. My own voice. The words of others.

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Free Write: Travelin' Mama

Yes'm - that's been me the last few weeks.

Minus this one.

I went to New York. Then to Maine. Then back to New York on the way home.

And then I came home and here I am.

It's been a weirdly longish and shortish week - being home without my loved ones nearby.

I did lots of stuff on my travels. I'm kind of opting for pictures to share them with you - since you probably think - yeah yeah - she traveled - okay. Lah-di-dah.

Home.

Brooklyn.

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