SocialDistancing is trending #ICYMI. 6 feet apart - that’s the rule. And it’s an easy rule to follow. Stop thinking you are immune to the virus. This pandemic has become very real, very fast. The amount of people that I know that have the virus is growing daily. Scary times. Friends are unemployed and we are ALL losing our minds. It’s all heartbreaking and foreign. All the things you’re feeling - worry, uncertainty, boredom, MAJOR anxiety....they are all valid. We are all fee

grief is a bitch. I can remember asking through uncontrollable tears "how long does this last?" It's been 7 years since I lost more people than anyone should in such a short amount of time. 7 deaths. 6 of which were suicides. 2013 SUCKED. I was finally starting to see the light and come out of the fog and then BAM; my Mom was diagnosed with cancer. She died in October of 2018. It was the hardest goodbye of my life. To say the last 7 years have been hard is an understatement.

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand" - Randy Pausch That is one of my favorite life quotes to live by. Life is not always fair. This is nothing new. Randy Pausch was a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. He was a husband and a father to three small children. In August of 2007, Randy had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His Dr's informed him it was no longer treatable and that he had 3-6 months left to live. He was

You know how you have those moments in life where you’re like “did that really happen???” This was one of those moments. I had gone to see Turnpike Troubadours play & I was waiting outside of the Neighborhood Theatre after the show to meet lead singer Evan Felker. It was a week night and I figured this was my chance. I’d seen them play a few times and I had some questions. Questions about the music. Was Lorrie a real person? How do you hedge a bet? I was going straight to the

It’s baaaack! Joffe Productions is back for Round III of the Oldskool Charlotte reunion. Grab ya babysitters now (for your kids or yourself) and plan to be out WAY past curfew. I always love getting a phone call from Joffe. I don't hear from him often (he keeps busy running STAX, The Reddoor and The Men's Club) but when I do, I know the drill. We are about to throw a helluva party. The Oldskool party is back by popular demand. Joffe's last two parties have SOLD OUT! I'm talki

Here’s to strong women EVERYWHERE! May we know them ❤️ May we be them ❤️ May we raise them ❤️ Happy International Women’s Day ladies!!! Be kind. Stand up for yourself. Always do the right thing. I’m looking forward to seeing you ALL tonight at Resident Culture Brewing Company @residentculture (6:30pm) It’s FREE & OPEN to the public - Yes men, you can come! Lots of local vendors will be there with lots of giveaways. goop even donated some of their “why am I so effing tired” vi

"The only trip you will regret is the one you didn't take." About two hours west of Charlotte, North Carolina is the sleepy little town of Black Mountain. Located in Buncombe County, it’s typical "small town America”. The downtown is lined with cute shops and restaurants. Locals sit and watch cars go by as tourists pop in and out of the retail shops. Black Mountain draws a large number of visitors each year and just outside of town, up a skinny winding paved road sits a gorge

🚨 GIVEAWAY 🚨 I’m giving away ✌🏻tickets to next Sunday’s (1/20) Bubbly Benefit Brunch at GoodRoad CiderWorks over on my Instagram page. Head on over to Instagram to enter! I’ve teamed up with the Events To Be Remembered and The American Cancer Society to bring you a brunch that includes tasty chef inspired dishes, 2 drink tickets & a schwag bag. If you’ve never had mead (alcoholic drink of fermented honey and water) GoodRoad has some of the best I’ve ever had. As most of yo

Even though I knew this was coming, I wasn’t prepared. Can you ever really prepare yourself for losing a parent? Or anyone for that matter. You’re never quite ready for the waves that come with grief. The sadness, the denial, the anger, the acceptance. Deep down, everyone wants to believe they are tough, myself included. But I am human & pain like this makes me want to crawl into a hole and die. My mother always said “death is a part of life” & it’s the part I hate. Yes, I kn

I take my job as a blogger very seriously. If I recommend you or your business, I’m trusting that you will do an excellent job. Unfortunately, that was not the case when I recommended Eben Patten. To the readers/followers & friends that hired Eben Patten Photography/Eben Adrian Photography on my recommendation and were lied to, stolen from and just plain ignored, I wanted to personally apologize. I am so sorry. I blame myself for not researching her past, as she has a history

I remember that morning like it was yesterday. It's hard to believe that was seventeen years ago. It was the day the world stood still. I had just gotten to work and was sitting in the Design Studio at Paramount, just a few miles from where I’m sitting right now. We had a TV in my office and Good Morning America was on. I remember us all crowding around as we watched in disbelief. Like many of you, it’s a day I’ll never forget. To those we lost, to those who kept us safe, and

Are you aware that there is a National NBA scouting service here in the Carolinas? Yup, it's right up the road on Lake Norman. I had no idea until recently when the video below was sent to me. You guys know how much I love sports and kids. So I did some research on Court XIV & the programs they offer. Court XIV is located on Lake Norman, NC and is equipped with the resources to assist student athletes in reaching their dreams & to give them the chance to improve their future.

New York has the Naked Cowboy. Charlotte has the Jesus Saves guy. I, along with a lot of other regulars in the city have become quite fond of Sam Bethea​. I look forward to seeing his big smile & hearing his booming deep voice echo through the city, reminding me that I am loved. I remember the 1st time I encountered Sam. He was outside of BofA stadium saying "Jesus saves" and he looked at me, right in my eyes and said "Jesus loves you." I believed him. I replied "I know; he l

It's that time again Charlotte! A few months ago, I attended one of the famous Joffe Productions parties. It has been YEARS since I have been to one. A reunion, if you will. There were lots of familiar faces and even more familiar beats. The music brought back so many memories. If you are from Charlotte and have been around long enough, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Let me back up for those of you who aren't familiar with what I am talking about. Before Uptown beca

What’s the saying “doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will”.... I doubt myself daily. I’m human. I can give great advice, but I can’t take it. I’m sure I’m not alone on this. I’m hard on myself. I can look back and laugh at how things that I thought were going to be impossible always work out ... somehow or someway. I read this advice yesterday. Then I read it again. And again. “The only person you should be comparing yourself to is yourself. Focus on your work, study

The roof...the roof... the roof is on fire.... & so is the rest of the house! 😵 It’s hot out there y’all! Current sitch out in NoDa. **Yes, this was for firemen in training. "I had to pull over and run past firefighters and take a bunch of photos real quick - it was HOT." - Justin Driscoll Thanks for the awesome shot Justin. #StayTunedQC #JustinDriscollPhotography #NoDa #Fire

There's an abandoned amusement park in North Carolina that is possibly re-opening in 2019. Ghost Town In The Sky, located in Maggie Valley, NC is said to be cursed. It's no surprise that I am a huge fan of abandoned places. When I saw the above picture taken by photographer Seph Lawless AND found out it was taken in North Carolina, I started my research. After looking at the pictures, it dawned on my that I had actually been here before as a child. Sure enough, I did some res

Chris Lane's new album Laps Around The Sun was released TODAY! Have you guys had a chance to listen to it yet? I've been listening to it on Spotify; to me, it's very Kenny Chesney sounding. Not surprising; Lane is a huge Chesney fan. I saw the two of them perform at Carolina Country Music Fest in Myrtle Beach, SC last year. I love the CCMF - always a fun time with Bottlecap Group fam. Plus, you are in Myrtle Beach....the people watching is almost as good as a Nascar race. I g

I betcha don’t know what squalane is? I had never heard of it until last year, thanks to Sydney over at The Daybook. She visited the Biossance home office in California to learn about their non-toxic skincare line, and after reading THIS I was interested to try their products myself. Squalane is found in our bodies and is believed to lubricate and protect our skin. Our bodies produce squalane naturally, but over time the amount is decreased, causing your skin to become rough

BIG Congrats to my team at Dixie Vodka - whoo-hoo! The locally owned distillery out of Charleston, SC is doing big things. The Ultimate Spirits Challenge has awarded Dixie Black Pepper Vodka the 2018 Chairman’s Trophy as the Top Flavored Vodka. The Ultimate Spirits challenge is the world's most prestigious and progressive global spirits and cocktail competition, with entries from 52 countries. 1 word: WOW! The good news keeps coming! I got a call earlier this week and found