RDU Gems

TICKET GIVEAWAY 🚨 We are thrilled to partner with , a wonderful nonprofit in Raleigh, NC, dedicated to empowering and supporting moms through community events and resources. 💪
To celebrate their work, we’re giving away 2 tickets to their upcoming Casino Night Fundraiser! 🎲✨
📅Date: Wednesday, Sep 18, 2024 Location:

How to Enter:
Follow and
Like this post
Tag 2 friends you’d bring to Casino Night in the comments below (who didn’t tag you 😉)

The winner will be drawn on Sunday, Sep 8 at 8pm. Good luck! 🍀

🥂 Calling all Brunchies! Market and Moss, the award-winning gem in Chapel Hill’s Southern Village, is now serving Sunday Brunch from 10am-2pm! 🍽️✨

Executive Chefs Danny V***a and Chuck Jones have crafted a brunch menu with elevated twists on classic favorites:

🥞 Dutch Baby with blueberry compote, lemon curd, powdered sugar, and bacon
🍗 Fork & Knife Chicken Biscuit with crispy fried thigh, hot honey, b&b pickles, and green goddess
🍤 Shrimp & Grits featuring cheese grits, smoked tomato gravy, NC shrimp, crispy prosciutto, and urfa peppers
🍳 Eggs Benedict with your choice of lox or ham, poached eggs, béarnaise sauce, English muffin, plus a side salad or fried potatoes

Don’t miss out on our specialty cocktails! Try the Proseccond Chances with Conniption American Dry gin, St-Germain, prosecco, lychee, lime, and basil, or the Quite Contrary, a Bloody Mary with house-made tomato consommé. 🍹

Located at 700 Market Street in Southern Village, Market and Moss is open for dinner Tuesday-Saturday and brunch on Sundays. See you soon for a delicious brunch experience! 🥂 📸 Alex Caterson

giveaway 💎 🚨 💎 they’ve been a gem from the beginning and have the most fresh flavors that are out of this world! Here’s how to win a $40 gift card by Tuesday July 30 at 9pm!
- Follow and
- Like this post
- Tag 2 friends *who didn’t tag you*

heard about my account being down and stepped in to help. A couple other amazing local business will be doing giveaways in the coming days as well. If you know someone that wants to do a giveaway, reach out! Love y’all.

National French Fry Day is TODAY Friday, July 12th, and there’s only one way to celebrate - special events at at in Raleigh.

Stop by today for:
🍟Free Fries For a Year: 10 customers will receive a free Buena Papa Fries for a Year!
🍟Creator Challenge: Customers can create their own Buena Papa reels and tag them on other social channels. The creator with the most views after 7 days wins a $500 Grand Prize.
🍟Exclusive Offers: Enjoy special discounts and promotions throughout the day.
🍟Cooking Demo / New Dish Debut: Be among the first to try “Papas y Mar,” our latest culinary creation.

“Raleigh is where our journey began, and we’re thrilled to
celebrate National French Fry Day with the community that has been with us every step of the way,” said James Windon, co-founder of Buena Papa Fry Bar.

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National French Fry Day is TODAY Friday, July 12th, and there’s only one way to celebrate - special events at at in Raleigh.

Buena Papa Fry Bar was born in Raleigh, founded by the dynamic husband-and-wife team, James and Johanna Windon. Their journey from a local startup to a nationwide franchise exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit of Raleigh. This event celebrates their local success story and the community that has supported Buena Papa Fry Bar from the beginning.

Event Highlights:
🍟Free Fries For a Year: 10 customers will receive a free Buena Papa Fries for a Year!
🍟Creator Challenge: Customers can create their own Buena Papa reels and tag them on other social channels. The creator with the most views after 7 days wins a $500 Grand Prize.
🍟Exclusive Offers: Enjoy special discounts and promotions throughout the day.
🍟Cooking Demo / New Dish Debut: Be among the first to try “Papas y Mar,” our latest culinary creation.

“Raleigh is where our journey began, and we’re thrilled to
celebrate National French Fry Day with the community that has been with us every step of the way,” said James Windon, co-founder of Buena Papa Fry Bar.

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This weekend we pulled out our Pistacchio crema we brought back from amalfi and had the best time celebrating !

Every Saturday at means lots of time at ! Lately… wedge | tipsy slushies | Taylor swift trivia with their seltzer flavor bar!! Next up will be !

Spilled milk, parent commissioning, bruised forehead, sams club lunch, inflatable pool, tequila lemonades… the realest, most perfect, first Mother’s Day 💜 mom, THANK YOU for all youve done and continue to do for me. I’ll never do it like you, but I’ll try.

We were honored to be featured in Twin County Media Magazine! This was SO fun and of course made me look AMAZING! So glad I could give them a shout out alongside many other greats in the twin counties ! Check it out and check out my latest project - 🌟

Still squeezing you in your baby clothes because I refuse to believe you turn 9 months next week 🫠 drummer of banging cups, almost-walker, and *did you just say mama?!* 😭 the days are long but the months are short 🤪 dress: ✨

Yesterday was perfect ✨ hosting the ultimate host herself is too fun! ✨ when the mom to be says bring the kiddo, lets him climb on all over her diaper boxes and drool all over her beautiful bows… and only cheers him on more - you know she’s going to be a great mom. I’m at the stage where you want a break but also can’t stand a minute away from the little dude… I mean look at those cheeks and rolls !

The last night of the tree. Absolutely not ready to let go of all it symbolized for us. 2023 was the year of conquering! Pregnancy, postpartum, sleepless nights, back to work, and being mom and wife to my favorite two boys. . Here’s to hoping 2024 is the year of simplifying so we can be present and have room to embrace the potentialities that are waiting for us to step into every single day.

Banks’s first Christmas ! He’s the best gift I’ve ever gotten. Holding on to the final days with him before he’s off to day care 🫶😭🎄

Need a gift for under the tree? I called Santa and he is serving up this gift guide! There are soooo many specials and their skin care set is definitely on my list and hopefully Santa puts a gift card in my stocking!

For those who want to try their Christmas luck- an elf told me a giveaway is coming up on so stay tuned!


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It’s not always easy but i am grateful grateful grateful. My body is healing, Banksy is growing, and I’m in love with .

Family time is messy and magic all at once.

Not often does the world ever stop or wait for you to catch up (or catch your breath) but I daresay if you get on a carousel the world will slow down for you to be a kid again, giddy, and forget about all the lost sleep, or baby rashes, keeping you up in the night, even for a moment.

If you’re up in the night, worrying, grieving, rocking back and forth back and forth back and forth… be it what it is- time doesn’t stop but it will bring healing. It will come. If someone is missing from your table, remember that your hope isn’t in a perfect Thanksgiving but the banquet God is preparing for you in heaven. Have hope. Keep going. I love you. I am thankful for you. I am cheering for you.

All the seasonal, specials at are here to remind me that thanksgiving is not just around the corner but this week! .

Metro Diner is bringing back their seasonally inspired Stuff n’ Waffles infused with cornbread stuffing! Available now through January 1, you can choose from the following three savory stacked selections:
* Sausage & Gravy Chicken Tenders Stuff ‘N Waffle: Two buttermilk marinated and fried chicken tenders topped with sausage gravy, over our homemade waffle pressed from cornbread stuffing, with sweet and spicy sauce on the side.
* Stuff ‘N Waffle with Turkey: Oven-roasted turkey breast topped with gravy, served over creamy mashed potatoes and our homemade savory stuffing waffle, with cranberry sauce on the side.
* Stuff ‘N Waffle with Ham: Baked ham topped with a sweet citrus glaze, served over creamy mashed potatoes and gravy on our homemade waffle pressed from cornbread stuffing.

These dishes are huge, and definitely fun to share amongst the table as well! Special shout out to how amazing metro is with the families! It brings people from all different backgrounds and leaves any pretension at the door so that families can be comfortable and five-year-olds can have their dream breakfast for dinner!

That’s a wrap. 👨‍👩‍👦🫶🇮🇹🇺🇸There is nothing like the last 3 months of healing and getting to know our precious Julian Banks. The fourth trimester is no joke but I can say we didn’t waste a single day. The 3am feeds, the blowouts, doctors appointments, and many changes of clothes (both him and me); the prayers over his day when I get him dressed, the smiles when we play with him, and his first adventures. Now it’s time for him to become a daddy’s boy as Blake takes over at home and I get caught up back at work on Monday! Very grateful for maternity leave (and now paternity leave) and the special moments I’ve had with my sweet boy.

Photo dump 🇮🇹 Three and a half weeks in ancient cities. The taste of pistachio croissants, Al Dente, and aperol spritz. My favorite two boys.

It only makes sense that we celebrate Son’s day in Italian paradise | dolce far niente- the sweetness of doing nothing. It’s the Italian way, and it has helped us slow down to appreciate the treasures of the culture, of the food, the sea, the ancient walls that show scars of generations, of the people all around us. Yesterday we ate lunch with a shepherd of 300 mountain goats that climb way better than I ever could. He wouldn’t trade his simple mountain life for anything.

Introduced Banks and Blake to my old friends in Roma- Carbonara, Amatriciana, Cacio e Pepe

Anniversary dinner at “NC’s most charming restaurant” 🌳💗🥩which included complimentary champagne toast or dessert. Can you guess what we chose ? Our selections: Appetizer- crab cakes and champagne, plus the bread service with whipped butter and cheese spread | first- arugula salad with candied cayenne pecans and roasted red pepper vinaigrette| seconds- pork chop with vanilla sweet potatoes mashed and spicy collards; filet mignon| sides-Brussels with Gorgonzola and bacon, four cheese mac* perfectly salted!! | dessert- bananas foster ice cream pie… this was the absolute best course of all and we ate it so quick I didn’t get a picture 🤤 thank you for planning a wonderful date night and . 3 down forever to go.

The best place to end the summer ☀️ 🌊 🍳

It’s not just any Friday- it’s Friday on the front porch!! My fav! And a special one with the launch of Centennial Lager tonight at 5:30pm. As part of the 100th anniversary celebration, The Carolina Inn partnered with Carolina Brewery to craft their very own Lager, aptly named 1924. This refreshing German style beer has a rich golden color, smooth malty flavor, and a crisp hop finish. It pairs perfectly with southern summer afternoons on the front porch.

* Music-Jimmy Hayes Band
* Food Trucks-Island Coconut Kitchen/Mexiarepa
*centennial beer: 1924 Helles Lager
*Free Samples (21+)
*Swag
*Raffles


The 1924 Centennial Lager will be sold will be available on tap at The Carolina Inn and Carolina Brewery. Cans are also available for purchase and would be a great gift for family and friends or a nice addition to home entertaining.

Nothing crabby about you 🦀 Banks’s first pool party 💦

Happy fourth buddy! Thought you were going to come with the fireworks last night but alas, you’re still waiting. The doctor said 2 more weeks but I’m *convinced* they got the due date wrong

Dancing into the countdown for Baby Boy B 💙 I’ve still got 3 more weeks until he’s due- do you think he’ll be early or late?!

Six weeks til Baby Boy B! He loves pushing on mom’s esophagus, punching my rib cage, and daddy’s cuddles ! He’s got a bigggg sweet tooth for . Knowing he is with me all the time is the biggest joy 🥹 Psalm 139:13–16 ✨you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Anyone else have a sweet tooth?!

Mom, you’ve always been the glue 💙 and I hope to be half the mom you are to me 💙 happy Mother’s Day to all the moms. And for those who may find today hard, may the Lord shine his face upon you. May the peace of God surpass all understanding. Love you.

5 favorites stops in Zion!
Absolutely loved our sweet time with friends and the beautiful bride ! Here are my tips on what to add to your agenda !
1. 🪨 canyon overlook trail is a beautiful hike to get started on- we got there at 7:30 and it is a 1 mile out and back trail. This was our first time at such high heights it kind of made me dizzy to look over trails, do the hanging bridges, or slide against the rock face so I ended up stopping a little early when my sneakers started to slide around on the sand….
2. 👟 The Narrows trail - you can rent gear to wade the water right outside the park entrance after you take the bus in.
3. 🏍 Book a slot canyon tour with ! They wrap ATVing and slot canyons into one 2 hour tour
4. 🥛 When you leave, grab a sweet treat (espresso chocolate milkshake!!!) from the gem shop
5. 🚲 e bike through the park on the last day. This was the most magical day and we stopped and did hidden trails to Emerald Pools that the ZNP bus didn’t access.
6. ⭐️ The wedding party did a stargazing experience together on the last night and I’ve never seen anything like it! So worth it.

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